The Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)
Mountain (艮 Gèn) above, Thunder (震 Zhèn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 27, 頤 (Yí), represents The Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment).
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 27 (頤 Yí). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/yi). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
頤：貞吉。觀頤，自求口實。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Constancy brings good fortune. Observe nourishment; seek what will feed your own mouth.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
山下有雷,颐。君子以慎言语,节饮食。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) a mountain and under it that for thunder form I. The superior man, in accordance with this, (enjoins) watchfulness over our words, and the temperate regulation of our eating and drinking.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初九：舍爾靈龜，觀我朵頤，凶。
James Legge: The first NINE, undivided, (seems to be thus addressed), 'You leave your efficacious tortoise, and look at me till your lower jaw hangs down.' There will be evil.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
六二：顛頤，拂經，于丘頤，征凶。
James Legge: The second SIX, divided, shows one looking downwards for nourishment, which is contrary to what is proper; or seeking it from the height (above), advance towards which will lead to evil.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：拂頤，貞凶，十年勿用，无攸利。
James Legge: The third SIX, divided, shows one acting contrary to the method of nourishing. However firm he may be, there will be evil. For ten years let him not take any action, (for) it will not be in any way advantageous.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
六四：顛頤，吉，虎視眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。
James Legge: The fourth SIX, divided, shows one looking downwards for (the power to) nourish. There will be good fortune. Looking with a tiger's downward unwavering glare, and with his desire that impels him to spring after spring, he will fall into no error.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：拂經，居貞吉，不可涉大川。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, shows one acting contrary to what is regular and proper; but if he abide in firmness, there will be good fortune. He should not, (however, try to) cross the great stream.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：由頤，厲吉，利涉大川。
James Legge: The sixth NINE, undivided, shows him from whom comes the nourishing. His position is perilous, but there will be good fortune. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Providing Nourishment can prompt a careful question about intake and output: what does this situation feed on, and what comes out of a person's mouth as well as into it? The open-mouth image reads here as the text's own frame for examining both consumption and speech.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
Nothing on this page is dietary, medical, or nutritional guidance. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 27 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.