The kwa signs:
There is something between the jaws; this is called biting together. In biting together, the hard and the soft are proportionate, and all actions are clear. Thunder and lightning join in orderly sequence. Flexibility attains balance and moves upward; though it is not in power, it beneficially applies justice.
The Image: Thunder and lightning -- biting together. Kings of yore used clear punishments to promulgate the law.

The yao signs:

• F9 -- Using foot cuff stopping the movement (lightest punishment), there is no blame.
  The Image: "Using foot cuff" means stopping the movement.
  Note: The punishments start from the foot for lightest crime. The most severe crime gets punishment on the head.
• 6two -- Cutting off the nose and tottooing the skin, there is no blame.
  The Image: Cutting off the nose and tottooing the skin means justice prevailing.
• 6three -- Punishing a diehard while he is not accepting, there is a little unease, but no blame.
  The Image: Not accepting the punishment means that the justice may not be truly just.
• 9four -- If found honor and sincerity in a case, it is beneficial to work hard to find out the truth and be upright.
  The Image: It is beneficial to work hard and be upright; one is not yet fully understand the case.
• 6five -- If found honor and sincerity in a case, one must be upright and diligent. There will be no blame.
  The Image: Upright and diligent, blameless -- this is finding what is appropriate.
• T9 -- Cutting off the ears is not appropriate.
  The Image: "Cutting off the ears" means the trial or the hearing is unjust.
  Note: The punishment for the most severe crime is on the head, but cutting off the ears (being a very small punishment) is not proper for the crime, that is, the justice is not served.

The kwa signs:
Adornment is successful. The soft comes and embellishes the hard, hence success. Distinguishing the hard, and the soft is distinguished. This way gains a small benefit. This is the adornment of heaven. Control by civilization is the adornment of humanity. Observe the adornment of heaven to see the changes of the times; observe the adornment of humanity to transform and complete the world.
The Image: There is fire below a mountain, adorning it. Leaders clarify governmental affairs without presumptuous adjudication.

The yao signs:

• F9 -- Adorn the feet; leave the car and walk.
  The Image: Leave the car and walk -- it is time not to ride (rule).
• 6two -- Adornment is seeking.
  The Image: Adornment is seeking, in the sense of rising with those who are higher.
• 9three -- Adorned, luxuriant, perpetual uprightness bodes well.
  The Image: The good fortune of perpetual uprightness is that no one can ever slight you.
• 6four -- Adorned plainly as a white horse runs swiftly. Making enemies partners.
  The Image: The fourth yin, in its proper place, doubts. Making enemies partners, and ultimately bear no grudge.
• 6five -- Adornment in the hills and groves. The roll of silk is small. There is regret, but the end is auspicious.
  The Image: What is auspicious about the fifth yin is that there is joy.
• T9 -- adornment by simplicity is impeccable.
  The Image: Adornment by simplicity is impeccable. One above (on top) is happy.

The kwa signs:
Stripping away is overthrowing. The weak becomes the strong. It is not beneficial to go anywhere, because unrighteous people are increasing. Accordingly upright leaders lay low and watch and wait out the process of waxing and waning, filling and emptying, which is the action of heaven.
The image: Mountains cleave to the earth. Building homes with thick foundation.

The yao signs:

• F6 -- Stripping a bed of its legs, destroying uprightness brings misfortune.
  The image: Stripping a bed of its legs is destroying the foundation.
• 6two -- Stripping a bed of its frame, destroying uprightness brings misfortune.
  The image: Stripping a bed of its frame, there is nothing to work with.
• 6three -- Stripping away without consequence.
  The image: Stripping away without consequence being without top nor bottom (it does not matter any more).
• 6four -- Stripping a bed to the person brings misfortune (it has pushed too hard).
  The image: Stripping a bed to the person is getting very close to disaster.
• 6five -- Showing favor to court ladies, there is all-around benefit.
  The image: Using the favor shown to court ladies, in the end there is no grudge.
• T9 -- Not taking credit (beautiful fruit), the upright leader is (favored) by getting a vehicle. The unrighteous person is stripped of a house.
  The image: The leader gets a vehicle, in the sense of being carried by the people. The unrighteous person is stripped of a house, not be for employed after all.

The kwa signs:
Return is successful. Strength comes back, moving with harmonious action, therefore coming and going without ill; when a companion comes there is no fault. Returning back on the path, returning in seven days, is the action of heaven. It is beneficial to have a place to go, because strength is growing. To return is to see the way of heaven and earth.
The image: Thunder over the earth -- return. On the winter solstice, the ancient kings shut the gates; the caravans did not travel; the ruler did not inspect the regions.

The yao signs:

• F9 -- Returning before go far, no regret. Very auspicious.
  The image: returning before go far is the way of cultivating oneself.
• 6two -- Good return is auspicious.
  The image: What is auspicious about good return comes being humble and benevolent.
• 6three -- Repeated return is diligence. There is no fault.
  The image: The diligence of repeated return is faultless if right.
• 6 four -- Being in the center, returning alone.
  The image: Being in the center, returning alone, is done by following the path.
• 6five -- Attentive return, without regret.
  The image: Attentive return without regret is balanced reflection on oneself.
• T6 -- Straying return is unfortunate; there is trouble. Use this for a military expedition, and eventually there will be a great defeat, unfortunate even for the leader of the nation. Even in ten years there is no victory.
  The image: The misfortune of straying return is because it against the way of a leader.

The kwa signs:
No error -- strength comes from outside and becomes the master of the inside. Active and strong, strength is balanced and responsive. Great success for being righteous is the way of heaven. Denial of what is correct is mistaken, so it will not be beneficial to go anywhere. Without error where can one not go? How could one go anywhere without the assistance of the heaven's blessing?
The image: Thunder travels under the sky; things accompany with no error. Ancient kings promoted flourishing appropriate to the time and nurtured myriad beings.

The yao signs:

• F9 -- Going without error leads to good results.
  The image: Going without error, one attains one's aspiration.
• 6two -- Not plowing for the harvest (meaning not claim credit), it is beneficial to go somewhere (for a career).
  The image: not plowing for the harvest, one is not enriched (by self claiming).
• 6three -- The misfortune of no error -- When a traveler finds a run away cow, it is the lose of the local people.
  The image: When a traveler finds the cow, it is a misfortune for the local people.
• 9four -- One should be correct; then there is no error.
  The image: One should be correct; then there is no error -- this is inherent.
• 9five -- When not truly ill, do not use medicine -- there will be joy.
  The image: Medicine should not be tried when nothing is wrong.
• T9 -- Even if there is no error, action involves misfortune, so no benefit is gained.
  The image: Action without error involves misfortune because it comes to an impasse.

The kwa signs:
In great buildup, strength and honesty shine, daily renewing their virtues. Strength rises and esteems the wise. Ability to control power is great rectitude. Not eating at home, inviting the wise for banquet is good. It is beneficial to cross a great river -- this is responding to heaven.
The image: Sky meets the mountain -- great buildup. Leaders build up their virtues by abundant knowledge of past words and deeds.

The yao signs:

• F9 -- There is danger; help yourself.
  The image: There is danger; help yourself -- do not get into trouble.
• 9two -- The car has its axles removed.
  The image: The car has its axles removed, but there is no resentment in the heart.
• 9three -- A good horse gives chase. It is beneficial to struggle for right. Daily practicing charioteering and defense, it is beneficial to have somewhere to go.
  The image: it is beneficial to have somewhere to go, in the sense of joining in the aims of those on top.
• 6four -- The horn-guard of a young ox is very auspicious.
  The image: What is very auspicious about the fourth yin is that there is joy.
• 6five -- The tusks of a gelded boar are auspicious.
  The image: What is auspicious about the fifth yin is that there is celebration.
• T9 -- Carrying the way of heaven is successful.
  The image: Carrying the way of heaven, the way is carried out on a grand scale.

The kwa signs:
Nourishment is good if correct. Observing nourishment is observing what is nourished. Seeking food by yourself is observing your own nourishment. Heaven and earth nurture myriad beings, sages nurture the wise and the general population. The time of nourishment is great indeed.
The image: There is thunder beneath the mountain. Leaders are prudent in speech, moderate in consumption.

The yao signs:

• F9 -- To give up your sacred tortoise and watch me eating leads to misfortune.
  The image: To watch me eating is not worthy of respect.
• 6two -- Perverting nourishment pushes aside the constant. Feeding on high ground, an expedition bodes ill.
  The image: An expedition bodes ill for the second yin, because the action loses companionship.
• 6three -- Going against nourishment is inauspicious even if there is rectitude. Do not act on this for yen years; there is nothing to be gained.
  The image: Do not act on this for ten years, for the way is greatly wrong.
• 6four -- Reverse nourishment is auspicious. The tiger watches intently, about to give chase (but no action). No fault.
  The image: What is auspicious about reverse nourishment is providing by the one from the top.
• 6five -- Pushing aside the constant, it is good to remain upright, but it will not do to cross a great river.
  The image: What is good about remaining upright is following those on top docilely.
• T9 -- Asking for nourishment, it is good to be diligent, beneficial to cross a great river.
  The image: Asking for nourishment, it is good to be diligent. There will be great celebration.

The kwa signs:
"The Greatly over" means the great passes. "The ridgepole bends" means that root and branch are weak. Over but with strength can be yet balanced; it is docile and acts joyfully. It is beneficial to have somewhere to go, for you will then succeed. The greatly going over is great indeed.
The image: Moisture destroys wood -- the greatly over. The righteous people stand alone without fear, away from society without distress.

The yao signs:

• F6 -- spreading a mat of white reeds, there is no blame.
  The image: Spreading a mat of white reeds means flexibility in a low position.
• 9two -- A withered willow produces sprouts, an old man gets a girl for a wife; all good.
  The image: An old man getting a girl for a wife has her for companion in spite of being older.
• 9three -- The ridgepole bending is foreboding.
  The image: The foreboding of the ridgepole bending is that there is no way to help.
• 9four -- The ridgepole is raised. This is auspicious, but there is another shame.
  The image: What is auspicious about the ridgepole being raised is that it does not bend down.
• 9five -- A withered willow bears flowers, an old woman gets a young man for a husband. No blame, no praise.
  The image: When a withered willow bears flowers, how can they last? An old woman getting a young man for a husband can also be embarrassing.
• T6 -- Wading and sink (going too far), there is misfortune, but no blame.
  The image: The misfortune of going too far cannot be blamed.

The kwa signs:
Multiple danger is repeated peril. As water flows and does not fill, act in danger without losing faith. The mind gets through because strength is in balance; acts with guides, proceeds to success. The danger of nature is that we cannot ascend to it; the danger of earth is its mountains, rivers, and hills. Rulers set up dangers to preserve their countries. The timely use of danger is great indeed.
The image: Water comes repeatedly -- multiple danger. Righteous people practice teaching by constant virtuous action.

The yao signs:

• F6 -- Multiple danger, going into a hole in a pit, leads to misfortune.
  The image: Going from danger into danger is the misfortune of losing the way.
• 9two -- There is danger in a pitfall; one seeks a small gain.
  The image: Seeking a small gain, one has not yet gotten out of the hole.
• 6three -- Coming and going, pitfall upon pitfall, endangered and obstructed, gone into a hole in a pit -- do not take action (under this condition).
  The image: Coming and going, pitfall upon pitfall, in the end there is no accomplishment.
• 6four -- A jug of wine, with a ceremonial vessel of grain alongside. Use a plain cup; take in a pledge through the window. In the end there is no fault.
  The image: A jug of wine with a ceremonial vessel of grain alongside stands for the border of strength and flexibility.
• 9five -- Cannot fill the pit but pass it safely. No blame.
  The image; "The pit is not filled" means the strength is not yet great.
• T6 -- Bound with rope, put in a briar patch, helpless for three years -- misfortune.
  The image: The top yin loses the way, unfortunate for three years (take 3 years to overcome).

The kwa signs:
Fire is clinging -- the sun and moon cling to the sky, plants cling to the earth. Clinging to what is correct with twofold illumination transforms and perfects the world. Flexibility clings to balance and correctness, and so is successful. Therefore raising a cow brings good fortune.
The image: illumination doubled makes fire. Great people illuminates the four quarters with continuing illumination.

The yao signs:

• F9 -- The steps are awry. Be heedful of this, and there will be no fault.
  The image: Be heedful when the steps are awry, to avoid fault.
• 6two -- Yellow fire is very auspicious.
  The image: Yellow fire is very auspicious, attaining the middle way.
• 9three -- In the fire of the afternoon sun, you either drum on a jug and sing, or lament as in old age. This bodes ill.
  The image: The fire of the afternoon sun cannot last long.
• 9four -- Coming forth abruptly, burning, dying, abandoned.
  The image: Coming forth abruptly, there is no accommodation.
• 6five -- weeping and lamenting, there is good fortune.
  The image: The good fortune of the fifth yin is cleaving to rulers.
• T9 -- The king goes on an expedition, has good luck, and overcomes the enemy leader, taking captives, but not because they are repugnant. No fault.
  The image: The king goes on an expedition to bring correct order to the country.

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