【第 四 卦】 蒙 山水蒙 艮上坎下
蒙 亨 匪我求童蒙 童蒙求我 初噬告 再三瀆 瀆則不告 利貞
初六 發蒙 利用刑人 用說桎梏 以往吝
九二 包蒙吉 納婦吉 子克家
六三 勿用娶女 見金夫 不有躬 無攸利
六四 困蒙 吝
六五 童蒙 吉
上九 擊蒙 不利為寇 利御寇
Translation: I do not seek to further the child’s intelligence, but the child implores me to further his own intelligence.
Translation: Enhancing a child’s intelligence is great for shaping his identity in order to prevent him from committing crimes. If he skips his education, he will regret.
Analysis: The first segment is at the very bottom, which means the child is extremely in need of education. As a result, he should gradually obtain his knowledge without impulse.
Translation: Being surrounded by obtuse children as providential as marrying a bride. It is also as providential as managing the house when a person is young.
Analysis: The obtuse children refer to the first, third, fourth, and fifth segments. These Yin segments surround the second, which is Yang. Yang, as a teacher, guides the rest of the segments. The bride represents the fifth segment, which matches the second because both of them are in the middle of their respective portion. The fifth segment resides in the position of King, yet her modesty directs her to follow the second segment, which is of less importance. Therefore, the second Yang segment here stands for a shrewd, young person that manages his family, even his elders.
Translation: Do not wed this woman, for she only sees a handsome man in her eyes. She is not humble; marrying her is detrimental.
Analysis: This handsome man symbolizes the uppermost segment of the hexagram; he matches up with this segment in terms of position. She is not humble, because dwelling in the uppermost segment of the lower portion connotes that she is in the state of learning but proceeds prematurely due to the handsome man. In addition, she rests on top of the second Yang segment. Consequently, she lacks humility and marrying her is unfavorable.
Translation: Mired in the process of learning. Lamentable.
Analysis: This feminine segment is encircled by two more feminine segments, one on top and the other at the bottom. She is distant from the teacher; regrets ensue.
Translation: A child’s learning. Auspicious.
Analysis: The auspice results from the position of this segment; as Yin, she lies at the center of the upper portion yet implores for knowledge from the second segment, which is masculine. This is the supreme example of modesty and humility.
Translation: Striking the learners. It is not beneficial to employ extreme methods, which are only propitious against enemy.
Analysis: This masculine segment rests at the summit of the hexagram. As a teacher, it utilizes extremely severe method when teaching. Solemnity is reliable, but not severity.