Hexagram 4:

méng inexperience, immaturity, untrained vines

By Augustin Chan · Last updated 2025

Upper Trigram山(艮)
Lower Trigram水(坎)

Judgment

ménginexperience, immaturity, untrained vines
hēngfulfillment, satisfaction, success, completion
fěiit, this is not
I, me; we, us
qiúwho ask, seeks, soliciting
tóngyoung, youthful, naive, childlike
ménginexperienced, untaught, uninformed
tóngyoung, youthful, naive, childlike
ménginexperienced, untaught, uninformed
qiúask, seek after, solicit, entreat, ask from
me, us
chūat, in, during the first, initial, original
shìdivining, consultation, oracle, inquiry
gàoadvice, an explanation; informs, explains
zàito ask two, twice; again; the second
sānor, and three times; third time is, shows
disrespectful; impertinence, contempt
disrespect, impertinence, contempt; rudeness
warrants, deserves, merits; is due
no, not much
gàoadvice, explanations, information, answer
but it is worthwhile, rewarding, beneficial
zhēnto be persistent, loyal, dedicated, steadfast

蒙:亨。匪我求童蒙,童蒙求我。初筮告,再三瀆,瀆則不告。利貞。

Image

shānmountain
xiàbelow, beneath, at the base, foot of
chūthere emerges, appears, arises; out comes
quánspring, fountain
ménginexperience
jūnnoble, worthy, honored
young one, heir, disciple
accordingly, therefore, thus
guǒwith thoroughness; to fruition, maturity
xíngproceeds, advances, takes steps, sets forth
in, by fostering, nourishing, developing
character, merit, virtue, quality, ability, nature

山下出泉,蒙。君子以果行育德。

歷史刺殺(Historical Assassination)

Hexagram 4 digital artifact

荊軻圖窮匕見

荊軻 (公元前227年)

公元前227年。秦宮。一個來自燕國嘅刺客喺秦王面前展開地圖——呢幅圖顯示燕國將會割讓嘅領土。藏喺入面嘅:一把淬毒嘅匕首。呢一刻嘅成語:『圖窮匕見』——地圖展開到盡頭,匕首就露出嚟。 荊軻扯住秦王嘅衫袖就刺。袖撕裂咗。秦王走佬,繞住銅柱走,拼命想拔佢條太長嘅禮劍。御醫夏無且擲出佢嘅藥袋拖慢刺客。最後秦王從背後拔出劍,斬中荊軻大髀,再連刺八刀。 臨死,荊軻箕踞而坐——喺當時係極大嘅侮辱——用盡最後一口氣辱罵秦王。據《史記》記載,出發前佢喺易水邊唱:『風蕭蕭兮易水寒,壯士一去兮不復還。』佢知嘅。佢照去。 呢個就係『蒙』:唔係蠢,而係年輕人對抗系統嘅愚勇。一把匕首阻唔到統一。呢次嘗試反而加速咗燕國嘅滅亡。

Historical Context

Period
周代
Oracle Bone Etymology
山(☶)在上,水(☵)在下——山腳嘅泉水,未清但求索中。
Traditional Use
『蒙』講嘅係山泉——水從幽暗中湧出,未係清。Wilhelm話:『此卦描繪年輕人嘅愚昧。年輕嘅愚者求師,唔係師求愚者。』學生要帶住問題嚟;智慧冇得強塞。

Lines

Line 1: 發蒙利用刑人用說桎梏以往吝

educating, developing, delivering, inspiring
méngthe inexperienced, immature, entangled
worthwhile, beneficial, gainful
yòngand useful, productive, practical
xíngto sanction, discipline, punish, penalize
rénanother, someone, a person, an individual
yòngif used, employed, tried, practiced
shuōto remove, release; cast, throw, take off
zhìshackles, hobbles, fetters, impediments
handcuffs, manacles, restraints
but for this; as a way, means; although
wǎngto continue, advance; to go on, forward
lìndisgrace, embarrassment, humiliation

Line 2: 包蒙吉納婦吉子克家

bāoincluding, embracing, accepting, protecting
méngthe inexperienced, immature, undeveloped
promising, auspicious, opportune, timely
accepting, admitting, involving, bringing in
woman, wife; women, ladies
promising, auspicious, opportune, timely
young one, child, heirs, offspring
can manage, master, do, sustain
jiāfamily, household, domestic affairs

Line 3: 勿用取女見金夫不有躬無攸利

it is not at all; do not
yònguseful, productive; engage, offer; useless
to pair, mate with; to choose, court, seek, take
maiden, girl, young woman, lady
jiànwho sees, encounters, meets, spies
jīnof, with money, wealth; the wealthy
gentleman; man
and does not, fails to; without; loses
yǒuown, hold, containing; possession
gōngher, a sense of self worth; her honor
this is no, not; this lacks, has no
yōudirection, purpose; an aim, orientation
with merit, of value, with rewards

Line 4: 困蒙吝

kùnsurrounded, afflicted, belabored, beset by
méngimmaturity, ignorance, foolishness, folly
lìnembarrassment, wretchedness; a shame

Line 5: 童蒙吉

tóngyoung, youthful, naive, childlike
ménginexperienced, untaught, uninformed
promising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Line 6: 擊蒙不利為寇利禦寇

striking, attacking, hitting, beating
ménginexperience, immaturity
not
worthwhile, advantageous
wéito be, act as, serve as
kòuassailant, adversary, enemy, robber
worthwhile, advantageous
to defend against, resist, ward off
kòuassailant, adversary, enemy, robber

Practical Guidance

你就嚟做一件勇敢但可能徒勞嘅事。 可能係對抗一個已經做咗決定嘅系統。可能係向早已心意已決嘅委員會做presentation。可能係寫封信俾一個處理過萬封信但乜都唔會改變嘅機構。你知道勝算。你計過數。數話你唔好煩。 荊軻都計過數。一個刺客。一把匕首。一次機會去改變成個文明嘅軌跡。秦王已經滅咗六國。燕國係下一個。統一中國唔係可能性——係時間表。而荊軻自願用一把藏喺地圖入面嘅刀去打斷佢。 呢個卦唔係話佢蠢。『蒙』意思係『覆蓋』——視野被遮蔽,好似一道未清嘅泉水。『蒙』係未知嘅狀態,係喺睇清全貌之前行動。山腳嘅泉水:有能量但冇出路嘅水,壓住唔會動嘅石頭。 呢個卦捕捉到嘅係:個人意志同系統慣性之間嘅不對稱。荊軻好有技術。匕首淬咗毒。藏喺地圖入面好聰明。但全部都唔緊要,因為秦王唔係個系統——佢只係系統嘅當前呈現。殺咗佢,另一個呈現會出現。統一有結構性嘅必然性,任何單一干預都逆轉唔到。 呢個唔係反對行動嘅論點。係要你理解你目標嘅本質。《彖》話:『初筮告,再三瀆,瀆則不告。』問一次,聽答案。如果現實話你結構唔會讓步,再問唔會改變結構——只係暴露你聽唔到。 荊軻聽到咗。佢照去。『壯士一去兮不復還。』佢揀咗嘗試而唔係計算。呢個係高尚定浪費,取決於你覺得意義係用嚟做乜。 你嘅版本細啲但結構一樣。你面對嘅系統——組織架構、市場、委員會、演算法——有獨立於任何個人嘅慣性。你嘅干預可能時機完美、執行完美,然後被完美吸收而毫無效果。泉水壓住山。山唔會留意到。 『蒙』問嘅唔係『我應唔應該試?』問嘅係:『我理唔理解我對抗嘅係乜?』荊軻理解。佢嘅愚唔係無知——係清楚勝算但拒絕讓勝算決定行動。呢個係選擇,唔係錯誤。 有時勇敢係收起把匕首。有時係展開地圖,明知接住落嚟會發生乜事。『蒙』唔會話你邊個先啱。佢話你要知自己係咩樣嘅泉水,同你面對嘅係咩樣嘅山。

Transformations

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