Jie 水澤節
A time for sensible limits
Overdoing it creates blocks. Set a reasonable line and keep to it.
What does I Ching hexagram 60 (Limitation) mean?
A lake with a measured amount of water: restraint. Keeping a sensible limit is lucky; excessive frugality is painful.
- Limitation in love
- Keeping a suitable distance and boundary is good for the relationship.
- Limitation at work and with money
- Balance of income and spending, and restraint, are needed.
- Advice
- Practice restraint, but don’t torment yourself.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Limitation
No blame“Success. Bitter limitation cannot be persevered in.”
The Image: Water above the lake: limitation. The noble person sets standards and measures and discusses virtue and conduct.
原文 · 亨。苦節不可貞。 / 澤上有水，節；君子以制數度，議德行。
The six lines of hexagram 60
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初九
No blame“Not going out of the courtyard: no blame.”
Hold back when the time is wrong. Silence and patience are safe.
原文 · 不出戶庭，无咎。
Line 2 · 九二
Misfortune“Not going out of the gate: misfortune.”
Holding back too long, when the time has come, is a mistake. Move now.
原文 · 不出門庭，凶。
Line 3 · 六三
No blame“No limits, then sighing; no blame.”
Overindulgence brings regret, but you only have yourself to blame, and you can fix it.
原文 · 不節若，則嗟若，无咎。
Line 4 · 六四
No blame“Easy limitation: success.”
Natural, comfortable restraint works.
原文 · 安節，亨。
Line 5 · 九五
Auspicious“Sweet limitation: good fortune; going forward brings esteem.”
Moderation that feels good and sets an example. Great.
原文 · 甘節，吉；往有尚。
Line 6 · 上六
Misfortune“Bitter limitation: perseverance brings misfortune; regret vanishes.”
Harsh self-denial is unhealthy. Ease up.
原文 · 苦節，貞凶，悔亡。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 56. Lu (The Wanderer)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 59. Huan (Dispersion)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.