← Back to I Ching
䷔
Hexagram 21
Biting Through
噬嗑 · Shì Kè
Trigram Composition
Upper Trigram
Fire
Lower Trigram
Thunder
The Judgment (彖)
Biting Through has success. It is favorable to administer justice.
The Image (象)
Thunder and lightning. The ancient kings made firm the laws through clearly defined penalties.
Meaning
An obstacle must be forcefully removed. Like biting through something hard between your teeth. Decisive action and clear judgment are needed.
Advice
Something is blocking union or progress. Deal with it directly and firmly. Be fair but don't be soft. Clear, decisive action removes the obstruction.
Keywords
DecisivenessJusticeRemoving obstaclesClarityFirmness