离
30. The Clinging
lí; Clarity, fire
Judgment
离：利贞，亨。畜牝牛，吉。
Perseverance furthers; success. Care of the cow brings good fortune. Fire must cling to something in order to shine.
Image
明两作，离；大人以继明照于四方。
That which is bright rises twice: the image of fire. The great person, by perpetuating this brightness, illumines the four quarters of the world.
Lines
- Line 1, yang (nine)
初九：履错然，敬之无咎。
The footprints run crisscross. If one is seriously intent, no blame. In a confused start, reverence sets the direction.
- Line 2, yin (six)
六二：黄离，元吉。
Yellow light: supreme good fortune. A central light—measured and lasting.
- Line 3, yang (nine)
九三：日昃之离，不鼓缶而歌，则大耋之嗟，凶。
In the light of the setting sun, men either beat the pot and sing or loudly bewail the approach of old age: misfortune. Facing decline, you choose your attitude.
- Line 4, yang (nine)
九四：突如其来如，焚如，死如，弃如。
Its coming is sudden; it flames up, dies down, is thrown away. Explosive growth often ends in explosive collapse.
- Line 5, yin (six)
六五：出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。
Tears in floods, sighing and lamenting: good fortune. Sincere reflection and compassion bring the turn.
- Line 6, yang (nine)
上九：王用出征，有嘉折首，获匪其丑，无咎。
The king uses him to march forth and chastise; best to kill the leaders and take captive the followers: no blame. Punish the ringleaders, pardon the followers.
In the enterprise
The hexagram of clarity, communicating vision and interdependence: brand awareness, thought leadership, transparency, partnership. 'Fire must cling': every radiance—brand, personal influence—depends on a real carrier: product, value, relationship.
Psychological lens
Resonates with the attention economy and novelty–habituation; line 4 describes the hype cycle, line 5 the restorative function of emotional expression.
Related hexagrams
28. 大过 Preponderance of the Great
Lines 2–4 and 3–5: the hidden dynamics inside the situation.Opposite
29. 坎 The Abysmal
Every line reversed: the shadow side and blind spots.Inverse
30. 离 The Clinging
The figure turned upside down: the counterpart's or stakeholder's view.King Wen pair
29. 坎 The Abysmal
Situations in the library that use this hexagram
- Apologising after a reputation crisis Enterprise, Line 5, yin (six)
- Building thought leadership Enterprise, Judgment
- Light, nature and well-being Enterprise, Line 2, yin (six)
- Reflecting on mortality Individuals, Line 3, yang (nine)
- The end of a relationship Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)
- Light and colour Individuals, Line 2, yin (six)
- A mid-life crisis Individuals, Line 3, yang (nine)
- Starting to create content online Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
- Facing ageing with equanimity Individuals, Line 3, yang (nine)
Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.