Hexagram 22. Adornment (賁 Bì)

Trigrams

Above

☶ Gèn (Mountain)

Below

☲ Lí (Fire)

Symbolic Meaning

賁 (Bì) describes the application of form, pattern, and appearance to what already exists. It is not substance itself, but the shaping of how something is presented and perceived.

Judgment

Original Chinese:
賁，亨，小利有攸往。
(Bì, hēng, xiǎo lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)

"Adornment. Passage. Small undertakings are beneficial."

Adornment enhances but does not replace what is essential. It is effective only within limits.

Small actions that refine or present are appropriate. Larger undertakings fail if based on appearance alone.

Image

Original Chinese:
山下有火，賁。君子以明庶政，无敢折獄。
(Shān xià yǒu huǒ, bì. Jūn zǐ yǐ míng shù zhèng, wú gǎn zhé yù.)

"Fire beneath the mountain: this is adornment. The superior person clarifies matters but does not decide judgments."

Fire illuminates the base of the mountain, revealing form without altering it. Adornment makes things visible and defined.

It is suited to clarification and presentation, but not to final decisions. Substance must precede judgment.

Line 1

Original Chinese:
賁其趾，舍車而徒。
(Bì qí zhǐ, shě chē ér tú.)

"Adorning the feet. Leaving the carriage and proceeding on foot."

Adornment begins at a basic level. One abandons unnecessary display.

Simplicity at the foundation allows movement without distortion.

Line 2

Original Chinese:
賁其須。
(Bì qí xū.)

"Adorning the beard."

Adornment is applied outwardly, affecting appearance rather than substance.

This is superficial and limited in scope.

Line 3

Original Chinese:
賁如濡如，永貞吉。
(Bì rú rú rú, yǒng zhēn jí.)

"Adorned, yet moistened. Lasting constancy brings good fortune."

Adornment is present but not rigid. It remains flexible and connected to what is real.

When form does not become hardened or artificial, it can endure.

Line 4

Original Chinese:
賁如皤如，白馬翰如，匪寇婚媾。
(Bì rú pó rú, bái mǎ hàn rú, fěi kòu hūn gòu.)

"Adorned in plainness. A white horse arrives swiftly. Not an intruder, but a joining."

Adornment becomes minimal and clean. What appears sudden is not hostile.

Clarity removes misinterpretation, allowing proper connection.

Line 5

Original Chinese:
賁于丘園，束帛戔戔，吝，終吉。
(Bì yú qiū yuán, shù bó jiān jiān, lìn, zhōng jí.)

"Adorning the hills and gardens. Small offerings, limited means. Some difficulty, but in the end, good fortune."

Adornment is modest and constrained. Resources are limited.

Though insufficient at first, sincerity within limitation leads to a favorable outcome.

Line 6

Original Chinese:
白賁，无咎。
(Bái bì, wú jiù.)

"Plain adornment. No fault."

Adornment reaches its highest form by becoming minimal. Nothing excessive remains.

When appearance aligns completely with substance, no error occurs.