Hexagram 19: Approach
臨Lín
Drawing near with care.
The passages below are historical language. Their references to fortune, danger, and the exemplary person belong to the text’s world. Our modern explanation is an invitation to reflect on your situation.
The Judgment
Classical Chinese
臨。 元亨利貞。至於八月有凶。
Our English rendering
Approach. Great success. Steadfastness is favorable. When the eighth month arrives, there is misfortune.
The Image
Classical Chinese
象曰：澤上有地，臨。君子以教思無窮，容保民無疆。
Our English rendering
Earth lies above the lake: Approach. A person of integrity therefore gives endless thought to teaching, and makes room for and protects the people without limit.
Translation note: The English follows the received wording 容保民無疆, understood as making room for and protecting the people without limit. 'Eighth month' is retained and should not be equated directly with August. Compare the supporting classical text.
A modern reading
Earth above the lake brings the containing shore close to water. The Image draws from this position a responsibility to teach and protect, giving approach a relationship to those being approached. A contemporary reflection can examine how you enter another person's situation. Getting closer may give you more influence, which makes attention to their needs increasingly relevant. Patient explanation and dependable care can help the encounter remain useful to the person receiving your attention.
The Judgment begins favorably and then names misfortune at a later month. The ancient omen includes a change of conditions within its own brief statement. For present reflection, consider the limits of an opening that is available now. An invitation or opportunity may need support while circumstances are favorable, along with an understanding of what could change. The Image's continuing care gives a practical direction for deciding what to do with the time available.
A question to sit with
How can you use a present opening to offer care or explanation that the other person can rely on?
Source and method
The Judgment and Image are classical passages from the Book of Changes. The English rendering and modern explanation are Meow Ching’s editorial work. This page covers these two passages; it does not translate the six individual line texts.
Read the classical text on Wikisource · Our sources and method