Hexagram 36 · ䷣
Darkening of the Light. It furthers to be persevering in hardship.
Judgment
Darkening of the Light. It furthers to be persevering in hardship.
Image
Light sinking into the earth represents Darkening of the Light. The noble person manages affairs with hidden wisdom—not displaying brilliance but still achieving results.
Lines
Darkening of light during flight. He drops his wings. The superior person walks three days without eating, having somewhere to go. The host has words. Darkening of light injures th...
Darkening of the Light. It furthers to be persevering in hardship.
Darkening of the Light. It furthers to be persevering in hardship.
The light has sunk into the earth: this is Darkening of the Light. Inner light, outer mildness—to bear such great suffering as King Wen did. To persevere in hardship is to hide one's light. Though in difficult straits, one can still keep one's will correct, as King Ji did.
Light sinking into the earth creates Darkening of the Light. Inner light with outer mildness allows one to bear great suffering, as King Wen did. Perseverance in hardship means hiding one's light while maintaining correct will.
The light has sunk into the earth: the image of Darkening of the Light. The noble person in his conduct of affairs is dark yet wise, not displaying his light yet still bringing it to realization.
Light sinking into the earth represents Darkening of the Light. The noble person manages affairs with hidden wisdom—not displaying brilliance but still achieving results.
Darkening of the light during flight. He drops his wings. The superior man walks for three days without eating. He has somewhere to go. The host has words to say.
Darkening of light during flight. He drops his wings. The superior person walks three days without eating, having somewhere to go. The host has words.
Small Image
The superior man walks for three days without eating: but he has somewhere to go. Righteousness demands this.
Walking three days without eating shows righteousness demands sacrifice.
Darkening of the light injures him in the left thigh. He is helped by the strength of a horse. Good fortune.
Darkening of light injures the left thigh. Helped by a horse's strength—good fortune.
Small Image
The good fortune of the second line, six, is due to the fact that he follows the rule.
Good fortune comes from following the proper rule.
Darkening of the light during the hunt in the south. Their great leader is captured. One must not act hastily.
Darkening of light during the hunt in the south. Their great leader is captured. One must not be hasty.
Small Image
The aim of hunting in the south is to achieve something great.
The hunt in the south aims at achieving something great.
He penetrates the left side of the belly. One gets at the very heart of the darkening of the light and leaves the gate and courtyard.
He penetrates the left side of the belly, reaching the heart of the matter, then leaves gate and courtyard.
Small Image
He penetrates the left side of the belly: thus he reaches the heart of the matter.
Penetrating the left belly means reaching the heart of the matter.
Darkening of the light as did Prince Ji. Perseverance furthers.
Darkening of light like Prince Ji. Perseverance furthers.
Small Image
Darkening of the light as did Prince Ji: his light could not be extinguished.
Prince Ji's darkness shows true light cannot be extinguished.
Not light but darkness. First he climbed up to heaven, then he plunged into the depths of the earth.
Not light but darkness. First climbing to heaven, then plunging into earth's depths.
Small Image
First he climbed up to heaven: he illumined the four regions of the world. Then he plunged into the depths: he had lost the rule.
First illuminating the world, then losing the rule brings darkness.
What does Ming I / Darkening of the Light mean in the I Ching?
Darkening of the Light. It furthers to be persevering in hardship.
How should I study Hexagram 36 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Darkening of light during flight. He drops his wings. The superior person walks three days without eating, having somewhere to go. The host has words. Darkening of light injures th...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Light sinking into the earth creates Darkening of the Light. Inner light with outer mildness allows one to bear great suffering, as King Wen did. Perseverance in hardship means hiding one's light while maintaining correc...
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.