Hexagram 27 · Nourishment

颐 · Yí

Hexagram 27, Nourishment (颐, Yí), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Thunder below and Mountain above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “贞吉，观颐，自求口实。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with nourishment of body and of character. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Upper trigram: Mountain (艮) — stillness and knowing when to stop
Symbol: ䷚ · Name: 颐 (Yí) · Number: 27 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   舍尔灵龟，观我朵颐，凶。
   The Image says: “观我朵颐”，亦不足贵也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   颠颐；拂经于丘颐，征凶。
   The Image says: 六二“征凶”，行失类也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   拂颐；贞凶，十年勿用；无攸利。
   The Image says: “十年勿用”，道大悖也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   颠颐，吉；虎视眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。
   The Image says: “颠颐”之“吉”，上施光也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   拂经；居贞吉，不可涉大川。
   The Image says: “居贞”之“吉”，顺以从上也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   由颐；厉吉，利涉大川。
   The Image says: “由颐，厉吉”，大有庆也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 27?

Hexagram 27 is Nourishment (颐, Yí), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Thunder below and Mountain above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Nourishment?

The judgment of Nourishment reads, in the Chinese original: “贞吉，观颐，自求口实。”. Its Great Image reads: “山下有雷，颐。君子以慎言语，节饮食。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Nourishment symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Nourishment is associated with nourishment of body and of character. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.