Hexagram 22 of 64
Grace 山火贲
☶☲ Mountain over Fire
Adornment and presentation.
Hexagram 22 is about grace, the way something is presented. Mountain above fire: light rests on what is steady. It speaks of tending appearance without losing substance, choosing simplicity when it counts, and giving what you do a dignified form. Progress is modest, but well presented.
Judgment
亨。小利有攸往。
Success. A small advantage in going somewhere.
Image
山下有火，贲；君子以明庶政，无敢折狱。
Fire at the foot of the mountain: grace. The noble person keeps public affairs clear and does not rush to judgment.
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：贲其趾，舍车而徒。
Adorning the feet: setting down the carriage and walking.
Choosing to walk rather than rely on comfort shows integrity and a firm step.
六二：贲其须。
Adorning the beard.
Tend your presentation, but remember that it moves with what lies beneath. Do not let appearance lead.
九三：贲如濡如，永贞吉。
Adorned, glistening and moist. Lasting perseverance brings good fortune.
Polish and brightness have value, and they last when backed by steady care.
六四：贲如皤如，白马翰如，匪寇婚媾。
Adorned plainly in white, a white horse in swift flight. He is not a raider but comes to seek a union.
Something that first looks like a threat can turn out to be a fitting partnership. Look carefully before you judge.
六五：贲于丘园，束帛戋戋，吝，终吉。
Adorning the hills and gardens, with small bundles of silk. Regret, but a good ending.
Modest means can look scant at first, but a steady finish brings good fortune.
上九：白贲，无咎。
Plain white adornment. No blame.
Returning to simplicity and honest substance leaves you without reproach.
In practice
Love and relationships
Pay attention to the way you treat each other, and keep it sincere. A simple gesture often says more than a grand scene.
Work and decisions
Present your work clearly and with care, without decoration that hides the substance. Check that your message matches what is inside.
Money
Present your accounts and proposals in a clear, orderly way. Avoid spending on appearances what you need for essentials.
How to use this reading
Use this reading when you need to present something to others or decide how much polish a proposal needs. Ask: does my presentation truly reflect what lies underneath?
New to the method? Start with the six-line basics.
For cultural reflection only. This is not a prediction guarantee or professional advice.