21 噬嗑 Biting Through
Judgement
Something is lodged between your teeth and will not let you close your mouth: an obstacle you must bite through. A way forward is possible, and it helps to use firm means, even the law. If there is a misunderstanding or a fault nobody wants to face, do not let it rot. Take the problem head on, clearly and without cruelty, until it is settled.
Image
Thunder and lightning: the noise warns and the light shows. The ancient kings set punishments with intelligence and proclaimed the laws. The image joins clarity and strength: a well-thought rule is neither applied blindly nor left as mere words. If you must set limits, make them visible and reasonable. Ask yourself whether the rules you demand are understood and whether you apply them equally to everyone.
Lines
Line 1
Your feet are in the stocks and you have lost your toes: a check at the start. You are unlikely to go wrong. Sometimes a small penalty in time prevents greater harm. Think about what the limit teaches you, whether it was set on you or by you.
Line 2
You bite through soft flesh and, without meaning to, go as far as the nose: something is resolved so easily that you overshoot. You are unlikely to go wrong. But watch how far you go. Ask yourself whether, in what you are resolving, you have gone too far because it was so easy.
Line 3
You gnaw dried meat and find something unpleasant. There is a small reason for regret, but not a great mistake. Facing something old and hard brings up things you would rather not find. Do not be discouraged: it is part of the work. Ask yourself what unpleasant thing you found, and whether it means you are on the right track.
Line 4
You gnaw dried meat stuck to the bone and receive arrows and money as a pledge. It is hard work, with a reward. It helps to acknowledge the difficulty of the task and stay firm: that is where the advantage lies. Ask yourself what bone you are chewing and what pledge you gain from it.
Line 5
You gnaw dried meat and find yellow gold. Stay firm and upright, and be aware of the danger of your position: that way you are unlikely to go wrong. When you face something difficult, valuable things come up. But gold can also blind. Ask yourself whether what you found makes you forget how risky your situation is.
Line 6
You wear the wooden collar and your ears have been cut off: you do not hear. That is a bad sign. It is the image of someone who has hardened their attitude and heeds no warnings. Ask yourself which advice you have left unheard and when you last let someone tell you something uncomfortable.
Reflection
- Which obstacle are you letting rot instead of biting through it?
- Which uncomfortable advice have you gone a long time without hearing?
- Do you apply your rules equally to yourself and to others?