Standstill (否, Pǐ) is hexagram 12 of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching,
in the traditional King Wen order. It is made of Heaven (☰) above Earth
(☷).
Meaning of hexagram 12
Communication has broken down and efforts stall. It is a poor time to
push; it is a good time to hold to your values.
Advice
Conserve your energy, stay true to yourself, and wait for the tide to
turn.
The two trigrams
Standstill places ☰ Heaven (Qián), strong, creative and persistent,
above ☷ Earth (Kūn), yielding, receptive and nourishing. The lower
trigram is the inner side of the situation and the upper one its outer
side.
Hexagram
12. Standstill
Chinese name
否 Pǐ
Upper trigram
☰ Heaven (Qián)
Lower trigram
☷ Earth (Kūn)
Lines
3 yang (solid) and 3 yin (broken)
Place in the sequence
12 of 64 (King Wen order)
The six lines of Standstill
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. In a reading, a changing
line (a 6 or a 9 in the three-coin method) draws attention to its
position.
First line(yin, broken): the beginning. The root
of the matter: early stirrings, foundations, and what has not yet
shown itself.
Second line(yin, broken): the inner circle. Your
immediate surroundings and steady supports: how things work at close
range.
Third line(yin, broken): the threshold. A point
of tension between inner and outer, often a test or a restless push
forward.
Fourth line(yang, solid): the approach. Stepping
into wider circles or nearer to authority; caution and good
relationships matter here.
Fifth line(yang, solid): the center of power. The
place of influence and clear leadership: where the situation is most
fully expressed.
Sixth line(yang, solid): the culmination. The far
edge of the situation: completion, overreach, or letting go.