Hexagram 21 of 64
Biting Through 火雷噬嗑
☲☳ Fire over Thunder
Biting through obstacles.
In the I Ching, Hexagram 21 is an obstruction in the mouth: something hard that must be bitten through. It asks you to address a blockage directly, firmly and fairly, instead of tolerating it. Clarity and justice help; swallowing the problem does not.
Judgment
亨。利用狱。
Success. It is favorable to apply justice.
Image
雷电噬嗑；先王以明罚敕法。
Thunder and lightning: biting through. The early kings made penalties clear and set the laws firmly.
The six lines
Read from the bottom line (the beginning) to the top line (the outcome). Each line gives the classical text, our English translation, and a plain-language reading.
初九：屦校灭趾，无咎。
Stocks on the feet cover the toes. No blame.
A small, early offense is corrected before it grows. Restraining it early is the wise move.
六二：噬肤灭鼻，无咎。
Biting into soft flesh until the nose disappears. No blame.
Pressing forward too easily can carry you too deep. Keep your footing even when the way feels smooth.
六三：噬腊肉，遇毒；小吝，无咎。
Biting dried meat and meeting poison. Slight distress, but no blame.
You meet a hard, unpleasant obstacle. It stings, but dealing with it directly avoids worse.
九四：噬干胏，得金矢，利艰贞，吉。
Biting into dried meat on the bone, and gaining metal arrows. It is favorable to persevere through difficulty. Good fortune.
A hard but important matter. Hold firm through the difficulty, and the reward becomes clear.
六五：噬干肉，得黄金，贞厉，无咎。
Biting into dried meat and gaining gold. Steady in danger, and no blame.
A demanding task that brings real value. Stay careful, and it can be resolved without fault.
上九：何校灭耳，凶。
A wooden yoke covers the ears. Misfortune.
Refusing to hear warnings, or to change course, can lead to serious trouble.
In practice
Love and relationships
Long-standing friction is easier to resolve once it is named. Say the hard thing plainly, and let fairness rather than pride decide what happens next.
Work and decisions
A problem that everyone has been avoiding needs direct action with clear criteria. Set a date to address it rather than waiting for it to resolve itself.
Money
Settling a debt or a dispute decisively can be better than letting it drag on. Get the facts in writing, and check the terms with a qualified professional.
How to use this reading
Name the obstacle you have been tolerating, and one concrete action that addresses it this week.
New to the method? Start with the six-line basics.
For cultural reflection only. This is not a prediction guarantee or professional advice.