36 · 地火明夷

明夷卦原文

明夷。利艰贞。

象曰：明入地中，明夷。君子以莅众，用晦而明。

白话文解释

明夷卦：卜问艰难之事则利。

《象辞》说：本卦内卦为离，离为日，外卦为坤，坤为地。太阳没入地中，是明夷的卦象。君子观此卦象，治民理政，不以苛察为明，而是外愚内慧，容物亲众。

《断易天机》解

明夷卦坤上离下，为坎宫游魂卦。明夷即明德被伤，象征君子受厄，此时百事宜息，静观待变。

北宋易学家邵雍解

日入地中，光明被伤；万事阻滞，等待时运。

得此卦者，时运不佳，事事劳苦，宜坚守正道，忍耐自重，等待时机。

台湾国学大儒傅佩荣解

时运：明哲保身，以避灾厄。

财运：明无利润，暗中分红。

家宅：父子分居为宜；不是明媒正娶。

身体：肝大郁积，注意保养。

传统解卦

这个卦是异卦（下离上坤）相叠。离为明，坤为顺；离为日；坤为地。日没入地，光明受损，前途不明，环境困难，宜遵时养晦，坚守正道，外愚内慧，韬光养晦。

大象：太阳掩没在坤地之下，大地黑暗，有失明之象。

运势：百事阻滞，小人加害，遇事多迷惑，宜守，静待时机而动。

事业：处于不利的环境，宜心境坦然地处置险恶的条件，增强心理素质，承受各种压力。表面柔顺小心，内心洞察事理，当离去则离去，避免灾祸，脱离危险。防患于未然，坚持逆境中奋斗。

经商：认真观察市场动态，待机行动，但须坚持商业道德，即使处于不利情况下，也要冒险向前，特别是要向南方发展，会大有收获。

求名：内心保持大志，行动刻苦忍耐，奋斗于逆境，自守其志，收敛聪明而不外露，于混乱中更应坚持正义，守愚藏拙。

婚恋：必须全面分析对方情况，不能因小失大。注意大节。

决策：处在不佳的状况下，环境困难，前途不明。但若能坦处厄运，能伸能屈，前景会变光明。尤其应加强修养，隐忍行志，外愚内慧，可以遇难呈祥。如能谨慎行事，处处小心，更能有所作为。

第三十六卦的哲学含义

明夷卦卦象，地火明夷卦的象征意义

明夷卦是异卦相叠，下卦为离，上卦为坤。离为明，坤为顺；离为日，坤为地。日没入地，光明受损，前途不明，环境困难。施于人事，则为暗主在上，明臣在下，而不敢显其明智之谓也。宜遵时养晦，坚守正道，外愚内慧，韬光养晦，以避小人之害。

明夷卦位于晋卦之后，与晋卦为正覆卦。《序卦》说：“进必有所伤，故受之以明夷。夷者，伤也。”晋升或前进之中难免有所损伤，所以接着出现了明夷卦，意指光明受到伤害。程颐这样解释明夷卦与晋卦的区别：“晋者明盛之卦，明君在上，群贤并进之时也。明夷昏暗之卦，暗君在上，明者见伤之时也。”

《象》中这样解释明夷卦：明入地中，“明夷”；君子以莅众，用晦而明。

《象》中指出：明夷卦的卦象是离（火）下坤（地）上，离为火，代表光明，为光明入地下之表象，象征着“光明被阻”。君子要能够遵循这个道理去管理民众，即有意不表露自己的才能和智慧，反而能在不知不觉中使民众得到治

明夷卦象征光明受阻，属于中下卦。《象》中对此卦的评断是：时乖运拙走不着，急忙过河拆了桥，恩人无义反为怨，凡事无功枉受劳。

36.地火明夷(䷣)-高岛易断

“明出地上”，谓之“火地”；此卦反之，谓之“地火”。明出于地，光明上炎，故卦为《晋》，进也；明入于地，光明下蔽，故卦谓《明夷》，伤也。当此《明夷》之时，暗主临朝，众正并受其伤；《离》来居下，地往居上，日入地中，明受其夷。《序卦》曰：“晋者，进也，进必有所伤，故受之以明夷。”是以谓之地火《明夷》。

明夷：利艰贞。

《明夷》，明受夷也。卦体上《 坤》下《离》，《坤》地《离》火，火入地中，则火为土掩，火光不能上炎而生明，是火为土所克，而《离》火受伤。火既受伤，势不能出《坤》而自炫其明道，惟晦而已矣。“艰”，以敛其彩，“贞”，以匿其光，退而避伤，潜以为利，是用晦之道也，故曰“明夷，利艰贞”。

《 彖传》曰：明入地中，明夷。内文明而外柔顺，以蒙大难，文王以之。利艰贞，晦其明也。内难而能正其志，箕子以之。

卦象日出地则明，日入地则暗，暗则伤明，是以《晋》卦《大象》曰“昭明”，此卦《大象》曰“用晦”。所谓变而不失其正，危而能保其安者，得此用晦之道耳。古之圣人有行之者，内修文明之德，外尽柔顺之诚，即至躬履大难，羑里受囚，七年之中，秉忠守职，无有二心，此文王之所以为文王也，谓之“内文明而外柔顺，以蒙大难，文王以之”。然文是外臣，与纣疏远，其晦犹易，又有分居宗亲，谏则受戮，去无可往，而被发佯狂，甘辱胥余，此箕子所以为箕也，谓之“内难而能正其志，箕子以之”。“内难”者，以箕子为纣之宗亲，夫以贵戚之卿遇暗主，去之则义不忍，不去则祸迫朝夕，是尤人臣之所难处。箕子能佯狂以晦其明，得以免难，是殷三仁中之最著者也。总之当纣之世，不以艰贞晦明，则被祸必烈，文王箕子之行，可谓千古人臣用晦之极则也。论二圣之行，文王箕子，易地则皆然，孔子释六十四《彖》，皆推广文王，《彖》辞之义，独于此卦称文王，抑有故也。盖“明入地中”，为文王事纣之象，文王有大明之德，而幽囚羑里，又可见“明入地中”之象。人得此卦，知时运之艰险，当固守贞正之道。《明夷》之时“利艰贞”，与他卦所言“利贞”不同，凡爻中曰“利艰贞”者，多就一爻言之，而《明夷》一卦，则全卦皆以“利艰贞”取义。《象》曰“君子用晦而明”，即“利艰贞”之旨也，其垂诫深矣。

以此卦拟人事，为当门祚衰薄，家遭不幸之时也。《 坤》母在上，《离》子在下，子虽明不得于母，是《晋》文之出亡而存，宜臼之在内而诛。不明犹可，明则遭祸尤烈，古来孽子，家破身亡，类如斯焉。推之与人共事，而逢首之昏庸，为国从征，而值元戎之柔暗，有才见忌，有德被谗，不特于事无济，而且身命莫保，所谓“顽石得全，璞玉必剖”，明之害也。《明夷》一卦，要旨全在“用晦”二字，以晦藏明，明乃无害，以明用晦，晦得其正。《坤》为用，又为晦，的是用晦之义。《离》之德上炎，《离》之体中虚，中虚则足以藏明，是为“用晦而明”之象。谚语有云“闭口深藏舌，安身处处稳”，亦处世之要诀也。人生入而处家，出而谋国，不幸运际其艰，所当法《明夷》之晦，用以自全耳。

以此卦拟国家，上卦《坤》为政府，《坤》土过厚而致暗；下卦《离》为臣民，《离》火虽明而被制，明在地下，是贤臣遇暗主之象。盖身当乱世，动涉危机，才华声誉，皆足招祸，是以庸庸者受福，皎皎者被害，亦时势使然也。君子处此，常凛履薄临深之惧，倍怀韬光匿彩之思，有才而不敢自露其才，有德而务思深藏其德，或见风而早退，或明哲而保身，是谓“用晦而明”之君子也。故六爻取义不同，而其旨不外“用晦”。内三爻属《离》，为鸟，为马，为狩，鸟以高飞，马以行远，狩以献公，皆晦《离》之明，以避祸也；外三爻属《坤》，四曰“出门”可免，“入地”则凶。五为卦主，以箕子当之，皆用《坤》之顺以晦明也。此关国家兴废之大，圣如文王箕子，祗惟乐天知命，尽其臣道，以挽天心，是以六爻不言吉凶。言吉凶，转开小人趋避之门，非圣人用晦之道也。

通观此卦，《明夷》次《晋》，“晋者，进也，进而不已必伤”，时有泰否，道有显晦，时与道违，虽圣贤不能免灾。《晋》之时，明君当阳，康侯得受其宠；《明夷》之时，暗主临下，众贤并被其伤。太阳入地中，明为之所夷，故贤虽正不容，道虽直不用，仁者怀其宝，智者藏其鉴，“用晦而明”，得其旨焉。就六爻而分言之，初九为《明夷》之始，当逸民之位，见几早去，以潜藏为贞，有保身之智，如伯夷、太公是也。六二文明中正，为《离》之主，承《 坤》之下，当辅相之位，以匡救为贞，守常执经，如文王是也。九三当明极生暗之交，与上六相应，通变达权，顺天应人，如武王是也。六四弃暗投明，见几而作，知上六之不可匡救，洁身而去，如微子是也。六五居《坤》阴之中，分联宗戚，职任股肱，不幸而躬逢暗主，以一身系社稷之重，能守贞正，如箕子是也。上六穷阴极晦，与日俱亡者，如商纣是也。总之，《明夷》全卦，以上六为卦主，下五爻皆为上爻所伤，就中内三爻所伤尤甚，故皆首揭“明夷”二字，以示伤害之重也。其象以上卦《晋》为日出，此卦为日落。日者君也，君以贤人为羽翼，以忠臣为股肱，以其身为元首，以亲戚大臣为腹心，乃可登天而照四国。今初爻羽翼伤，二爻股肱伤，三爻元首堕，四五腹心离，上爻之所以入地，其伤节节可睹，其象历历可危。后世人主，当取以为鉴。

《大象》曰：明入地中，明夷，君子以莅众，用晦而明。

《离》为明， 坤为地，“明入地中”，光明藏而不用之象，君子则之。《坤》为众，故曰“莅众”，以御其众也。知不可不明，亦不可以过明，不明则人皆欺我，过明则物不我容，所当纳明智之德，于宽柔之中，韬其光而不露，蕴其美而自全，斯上不至妒其功，众皆得以服其化。以此履盛，盛而益显，以此涉危，危亦得安。古之圣贤，旒纩以塞聪明，树屏以蔽内外，不欲明之过用者，胥是道也。

【占】　问时运：运当大难，深宜晦藏。

○　问战征：《象》曰“莅众”，适值用师之时，宜效明修栈道暗度陈仓之计，必得胜也。

○　问营商：卦象艰难，大众恐难取利，暗中尚有分肥。

○　问功名：《离》火被土所克，功名不显，显则反有灾害。

○　问家宅：家道不顺，或父子分居，尚可保全。

○　问婚姻：必非明媒正娶。

○　问疾病：是肝火内郁之症，治宜熄火。

○　问讼事：宜受曲罢讼，可以免祸。

○　问六甲：生女。

Judgment

Legge: Under the conditions of Clouded Perception be aware of the difficulty of your position and maintain firm correctness.

Wilhelm/Baynes: Darkening of the Light. In adversity it furthers one to be persevering.

Blofeld: Darkening of the Light. Righteous persistence in the face of difficulty brings reward.

Liu: Darkening of the Light. It benefits one to carry on through hard times.

Ritsema/Karcher: Brightness Hiding, Harvesting: drudgery, Trial. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of intelligence hidden or harmed. It emphasizes that deliberately concealing your light by entering what is beneath you is the adequate way to handle it. To be in accord with the time, you are told to: hide your brightness!]

Shaughnessy: Calling pheasant: Beneficial to determine about difficulty.

Cleary (1): In concealment of illumination, it is beneficial to be upright in difficulty.

Cleary (2): When illumination is damaged, it is beneficial to be upright in difficulty.

Wu: Light Obliterated indicates that it is advantageous to be persevering in time of danger.

The Image

Legge: The sun enters the earth -- the image of Clouded Perception. The superior man manages his subordinates and shows his intelligence by keeping it hidden.

Wilhelm/Baynes: The light has sunk into the earth: the image of Darkening of the Light. Thus does the superior man live with the great mass: He veils his light, yet still shines.

Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes light hidden within the earth. In governing the people, the Superior Man, though taking care to conceal his light, nevertheless shines.

Liu: The sun sinking under the earth symbolizes the Darkening of the Light. In approaching the people the superior man veils his brightness, yet still has glory.

Ritsema/Karcher: Brightness entering earth center. Brightness Hiding. A chun tzu uses supervising the crowds to avail-of darkening and-also Brightening.

Cleary (1): Light enters into the earth, illumination is concealed. Thus do Superior people deal with the masses, acting unobtrusively while in fact illuminated. [When practitioners of the Tao are among the masses, if they use their illumination too much, they will startle the ignorant and amaze the worldly, easily bringing on abuse and slander.]

Cleary (2): Illumination goes underground, in concealment of illumination. In dealing with the masses, true leaders act unobtrusively while in fact being illuminated. [What sages learn is to become daily more illumined unbeknownst to others.]

Wu: The light enters the earth; this is Light Obliterated. Thus the jun zi uses the spirit of dimness in place of brightness to administer affairs of the populace. [By “dimming” his internal strength, he would make people feel that he is one of them.]

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: The image of Brightness entering into the midst of the earth suggests clarity that has been wounded or obscured. The lower trigram shows Clarity, the upper Docility. King Wen had both of these qualities, yet he was involved in great difficulties. The individual concerned should obscure his brightness. Thus was Count Chi able to correctly maintain his mind and intent amidst the difficulties of his situation.

Legge: This hexagram shows an able officer going forth in the service of his country, notwithstanding the occupancy of the throne by a weak and unsympathetic ruler. Hence the name Clouded Perception or Intelligence

Wounded -- that is, injured and oppressed. The lesson of the figure is to show how such an officer will conduct himself and maintain his purpose. King Wen was not of the line of Shang. Though opposed and persecuted by its sovereign, he could pursue his own course, till his line came in the end to supersede the other. It could not be so with the Count of Chi, who was a member of the House of Shang. He could do nothing that would help on its downfall.

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Judgment: Recognize a difficult situation and use your willpower to cope with its restrictions. The Superior Man manages the situation by subduing his need to speculate, meddle, or call attention to himself. (Alternate: When in the presence of arrogance, the wise man plays the fool.) The thirty-fifth hexagram shows the trigram of Clarity progressing over

the earth -- an image of advancing awareness. The thirty-sixth hexagram is the

inverse of this -- it shows the trigram of Clarity swallowed up by the earth. If the image of Advance of Consciousness symbolizes noon, when the sun is at the midheaven, then Clouded Perception symbolizes midnight, when the sun is at the Imum Coeli, or undersky. It is a time of maximum darkness, maximum ignorance; a time when the dark forces of the unconscious are at their strongest. We are reminded of the Dark Night of the Soul, an inescapable and inevitable phase of the Work: When, at length, they have practiced themselves for some time in the journey of virtue, persevering in meditation and prayer, wherein, with the suavity and relish they have found, they have become detached from worldly things, and acquired some spiritual strength in God, so as to be able to curb the creature appetites and in some small degree suffer for God some slight load and dryness, without turning back at the crucial moment; when, to their thinking, they are proceeding in these spiritual exercises to their entire satisfaction and delight; and when the Sun of Divine favors seems to them to shine most radiantly upon them, God darkens all this light, and shuts the door and fountain of the sweet spiritual water, which they were wont to drink in God as often and as long as they chose ... and thus, he leaves them in darkness so profound that they know not whither to direct the sense of the imagination and speculations of the mind.

St. John of the Cross

The Dark Night of the Soul is the universal experience of everyone who follows the way beyond the tried and true paths of the spiritual dilettante. It is an archetypal filter for determining the survival of the fittest in psychic evolution. For those who have entered this phase of the Work, it is good to remember that no one is given a test that they can't pass if they sincerely want to. The situation in line five of this hexagram means little to one who is unacquainted with Chinese history. In its essence, the story of Count Chi concerns a superior man who was imprisoned by an evil emperor. The only way that he could survive this dark time was to feign insanity. Thus the message in the Image counsels us to show our intelligence by concealing it. There is a wide range of applications for this rule, and perhaps Lao Tse gives us the best paraphrase of the idea in his famous aphorism: He who knows does not speak; He who speaks does not know. In terms of the Work this can mean that one must firmly understand that there are some things which cannot be shared with just anyone. Inner work is very fragile until it has had time to crystallize, and to expose its truths to the harsh light of unsophisticated intellect is to risk severe damage to the process of individuation. One must not tell people of things they cannot grasp. There are mysteries that cannot be shared with everybody ... Some things can be told to no one and a secret told to a wrong person is destructive and even irresponsible.

M.L. Von Franz -- The Feminine in Fairytales This hexagram can symbolize many situations, but sometimes it is a suggestion that you are ignorant or "in the dark" about the true state of affairs now prevailing.