Hexagram for Biting Through

Its reading is about removing what stands in the way. In the Yijing, hexagram 21 is called Shi Ke (“Biting Through”): the name turns biting into a metaphor for decisive action against an obstruction. Fire sits above Thunder; these two three-line patterns, called trigrams, combine to make the six-line figure.

The six-line pattern is part of the sign’s meaning. Its appearance depends on the font: a fallback font may draw the strokes differently, or leave the character blank.

How did hexagram 21 enter the Yijing?

The Zhou Yi tradition is said to have originated circa 1000 BCE. Excavated manuscripts show that the Book of Changes circulated in more than one version; a text close to the received version existed by about 300 BCE, though names and ordering varied.

In early practice, diviners used a hexagram and its line statements to judge a situation. Later Confucian readings also treated the text as philosophy, applying it to conduct, order, and human decision-making.

Why is Biting Through linked to law?

Its traditional judgment treats justice as a way through the obstruction. The Judgment—the advice attached to the hexagram—recommends applying justice. The Image, a companion commentary, describes former rulers clarifying punishments and strengthening law. The force is corrective: decisive action is meant to restore order.

If someone sends ䷔ in a message, it may be a pointed metaphor for dealing with an obstacle. They may be sharing a divination result, referring to the Yijing’s philosophy, or using the name compactly; ask which reading they intend before treating it as a personal verdict.