I Ching Hexagram 21: BITING THROUGH (Shih Ho)

The Judgement

BITING THROUGH has success. It is favorable to let justice be administered.

The Image

Thunder and lightning: The image of BITING THROUGH. Thus the kings of former times made the penalties clear And the laws explicit.

The Lines

6

Nine at the top

His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue, so that his ears disappear. Misfortune.

The Image says: 'His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue, so that his ears disappear.' His hearing is not clear.

5

Six in the fifth place

Bites on dried lean meat. Receives yellow gold. Perseveringly aware of danger. No blame.

The Image says: 'Perseveringly aware of danger. No blame.' One has found what is appropriate.

4

Nine in the fourth place

Bites on dried gristly meat. Receives metal arrows. It furthers one to be mindful of difficulties and to be persevering. Good fortune.

The Image says: 'It furthers one to be mindful of difficulties and to be persevering. Good fortune.' This is not yet glorious.

3

Six in the third place

Bites on old dried meat and strikes on something poisonous. Slight humiliation. No blame.

The Image says: 'Strikes on something poisonous.' The place is not the right one.

2

Six in the second place

Bites through tender meat, so that his nose disappears. No blame.

The Image says: 'Bites through tender meat, so that his nose disappears,' because he rests on a strong line.

1

Nine at the beginning

His feet are fastened in the stocks, so that his toes disappear. No blame.

The Image says: 'His feet are fastened in the stocks, so that his toes disappear.' He does not walk.

The Wisdom of Hexagram — An Eastern Perspective

The Necessity of Law and Justice

Hexagram 21 (Shih Ho/Biting Through) presents a vivid metaphor: when something obstructs the mouth, one must bite through it to join the jaws. In society, this obstruction represents crime and corruption. Therefore, this hexagram is the ultimate guide to Criminal Justice and Penal Law.

The ancient Sage Kings understood that a peaceful society cannot rely on goodwill alone; it requires the backbone of law. Punishment is not an act of cruelty, but a necessary tool to establish order so that culture and kindness can flourish.

The wisdom of "Biting Through" lies in Timing and Proportion.

Nip it in the bud: When a wrong is small (Line 1), punish it immediately but lightly. This serves as a warning, preventing a small mistake from growing into a heinous crime.
Balance Strength and Flexibility: Enforcing the law is dangerous work—like biting into dried gristle or meat with bone. A judge must be upright and unyielding, yet skilled enough to mix hardness with softness. This prevents "breaking one's teeth" or provoking a backlash from powerful "tigers" (corrupt officials or criminals).
The Ultimate Penalty: For those who are arrogant, unrepentant, and deaf to warnings (Top Line), severe punishment is the only way to uphold justice.

Summary: Removing the obstacles to harmony requires the combined power of the two trigrams: Clarity (Fire) to see the truth, and Authority (Thunder) to enforce the verdict. Only when the law is clear and the execution is firm can society find true peace.