Hexagram 31 Line 6: 上六

Xian Influence

Position: Line 6 (Upper Trigram)上六 Yin ⚋ (Broken)Register: blamelessFamous Line

Classical Chinese Text

上六 咸其輔頰舌。

咸其輔頰舌

Wilhelm Translation

The influence shows itself in the jaws, cheeks, and tongue.

Commentary

Influence in the jaws, cheeks, and tongue. All talk, nothing real behind it—the most superficial way to influence others. Such mere tongue-wagging produces necessarily insignificant results. Neither good nor bad fortune is mentioned; the line offers only irrelevance. Words without substance move no one.

When This Line Changes

If Line 6 changes, Hexagram 31 Xian (Influence) transforms into Hexagram 33 Dun (Retreat).

(31)
(33)

Parent Hexagram

Influence
Xian (31)

Lake () over Mountain ()

Upper Trigram: Lake | Lower Trigram: Mountain