Hexagram 19: Approach
Outer trigram (upper)
Khôn
Earth · Earth
Inner trigram (lower)
Đoài
Marsh · Metal
Judgment
臨：元亨，利貞．至于八月有凶.
Translation
Approach (drawing near, overseeing): supreme success, favorable to hold to what is right. By the eighth month, misfortune arrives.
Commentary
Dui (Lake) is below, representing joy; Kun (Earth) is above, representing compliance. The two yang lines at the bottom are growing and advancing, giving the image of yang drawing near to yin, of those above drawing near to those below. By the eighth month (counting from the twelfth lunar month, when the hexagram Fu, Return, arises), the yang force fades again and yin grows strong, bringing misfortune. The point is a reminder to stay aware of timing.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yang)
初九：咸臨，貞吉.
Translation
Approaching together (with Line 2) — holding to what is right brings good fortune.
Commentary
Line 1, yang, is correctly placed. Advancing together with Line 2, yang, it draws near the group of yin lines; holding firmly to what is right brings good fortune.
Line 2 (yang)
九二：咸臨，吉，无不利.
Translation
Approaching together — good fortune, nothing is unfavorable.
Commentary
Line 2, yang, is centrally placed and corresponds to Line 5, yin, above. Advancing together with Line 1 while also holding the central position, it fares even better than Line 1 — nothing is unfavorable.
Line 3 (yin)
六三：甘臨，无攸利；既憂之，无咎.
Translation
Approaching with sweet, flattering words — nothing to be gained; but if one recognizes the danger and grows anxious about it, there is no fault.
Commentary
Line 3, yin, is neither centered nor correctly placed. Governing through flattery and sweet talk brings no benefit; but if it recognizes the problem and corrects itself, no fault results.
Line 4 (yin)
六四：至臨，无咎.
Translation
Approaching in the right way — no fault.
Commentary
Line 4, yin, is correctly placed and corresponds with Line 1, yang, below, welcoming the firm and capable in the proper manner — no fault.
Line 5 (yin)
六五：知臨，大君之宜，吉.
Translation
Overseeing with wisdom — the proper way of a great ruler; good fortune.
Commentary
Line 5, yin, holds the central position of honor and corresponds with Line 2, yang, also centrally placed below. Knowing how to employ a capable person (Line 2) to govern the people — this is the wisdom of a great ruler.
Line 6 (yin)
上六：敦臨，吉，无咎.
Translation
Approaching with generous, deep-hearted virtue — good fortune, no fault.
Commentary
Line 6, yin, sits at the very top and corresponds with no other line, yet possesses deep, sincere virtue. Drawing near to those below with such generosity of spirit brings good fortune.