21 - Translation and meaning

[ewald]

I'm working on a translation for my website (just Zhouyi) and I wonder if I could get some feedback.

Hexagram 21 is one where I have a somewhat different view here and there on it's meaning and translation than other translators. I don't see the entire hexagram as about punishment, only the hexagram text.
The meaning of line 5 escapes me, for the time being I'm interpreting the "obtaining of yellow gold" as "selling."

Any comments?


<U>21. Biting / Reproach</U>

0.
Untroublesome.
It is beneficial to administer justice.

1.
Trying straw sandals, destroying his gait.
Without blame.

2.
Eating the meat at the surface with one's nose in it.
Without blame.

3.
Eating dried meat,
encountering decay.
Slightly shameful, without blame.

4.
Eating dried meat with bone,
finding a metal arrow.
Hardship is beneficial, persistence brings good fortune.

5.
Eating dried meat,
obtaining yellow gold.
Persistance is dangerous, without blame.

6.
What is there to learn with destroyed ears?
Misfortune.


<U>Meaning</U>

0. It is beneficial to punish.
1. Clumsy because of inexperience.
2. Being overly enthusiastic can make one lose sight of details.
3. Neglect.
4. Carelessness. Using more care may be less pleasant, it is better in the long run.
5. Selling one's resources. One must be careful to leave some for oneself.
6. Not listening, being incorrigible.

[heylise]

About biting skin: an expression for punishing without exception (punish close parent is like biting one's skin)

Line 5 IMO is about biting through something very tough, with great reward. Like e.g. through difficulties, and solving things, or facing the truth and finding a new start.

LiSe

[ewald]

Thanks Lise.

I sometimes wonder where the line is separating the old violent meanings that Rutt has in his Zhouyi translation, and more recent versions and interpretations. I noticed that for line 2 you're not mentioning punishment in your text (http://www.anton-heyboer.org/i_ching/hex_17-32/hex_e_21.htm).

It's an interesting view to see the gold from line 5 as a reward. However, if that's the meaning, why isn't there ji2/Good fortune or li4/Beneficial?

[bradford_h]

Ewald
It's about biting with self-restraint.
You have a little potential treasure here-
a nugget or a bronze arrohead in that yellow metal.
You also have potential broken teeth.
Bite, but be ready to back off.
Too much firmness is problematic.

[ewald]

Thanks, Brad. I see.

So I guess there's no "Good fortune" or "Beneficial" because of the potential danger.

[bradford_h]

Hi Ewald-
Probably more like Irony.
I'm guessing this started with a bit of folklore that finding the arrowhead in your meat was good luck. China would certainly not be the only early society that had this one.
Then word got around that someone had bitten way too hard. There were actually dentists back then (how could there not be), but big deal.
So it might have become a running joke or obsevation about the nature of good luck. You still play a part in it.