Hexagram 21 of 64 · Fire ☲ over Thunder ☳
Biting Through
Shì Kè
Biting through the obstacle — the decisive act that clears what has been blocking the jaws from closing.
The Judgment
Biting Through has success. It is favourable to let justice be administered — an obstacle must be removed by clear, energetic, lawful action.
The Image
Thunder and lightning: clarity (fire) and shock (thunder) together. The ancient kings made the penalties clear and enforced the laws — problems are solved by making the rule visible and applying it without hesitation.
Hexagram 21 Meaning
The picture is an open mouth with something lodged between the teeth — lines one and six are the lips, and the fourth line is the obstruction. You cannot close your mouth until you bite through it. The hexagram is about decisive, sometimes forceful, resolution of a problem that has been blocking union or progress: a lie, an interference, a person who keeps getting in the way. Fire gives clarity about what is wrong; thunder gives the energy to act. Both together, and it is lawful — not vengeful.
Biting Through in Love
Something is blocking the relationship and it needs to be confronted directly — a third party, a lie, a pattern one of you keeps repeating. Biting Through says stop tiptoeing and address it. Do so with clarity (name exactly what the problem is) and energy (actually deal with it), but not cruelty. If the obstruction is a person interfering, set the boundary. The relationship cannot close its jaws around this thing forever.
Biting Through in Career & Money
A problem must be dealt with decisively — a dishonest colleague, a broken contract, an obstruction to the team. The hexagram favours clear rules, clearly applied: document, state the standard, enforce it. Half-measures fail; so does rage. The energy is judicial rather than vengeful. Once the obstacle is bitten through, the way opens.
What to Do
Name the obstruction and deal with it decisively. Be clear about the standard, then enforce it. Force is justified here — but only lawful, proportionate force. Bite through; do not chew forever.
Biting Through as a Yes or No
yes
Yes — but only through decisive action; the obstacle will not remove itself.
The Trigrams
Above: Fire (離 Lí) — the clinging — clarity, attachment, the middle daughter.
Below: Thunder (震 Zhèn) — the arousing — movement, shock, the eldest son.
The Six Lines of Biting Through
Read when the line is moving (a 6 or 9 in the cast). Bottom line first.
- 1
Line 1 · yang
His feet are fastened in the stocks: a first offence stopped early — no blame; the correction is mild.
- 2
Line 2 · yin
Bites through tender meat so that the nose disappears: an easy case handled a little too forcefully — no blame.
- 3
Line 3 · yin
Bites on old dried meat and strikes on something poisonous: an old, entrenched problem resists — slight humiliation, no blame.
- 4
Line 4 · yang
Bites on dried gristly meat, receives metal arrows: a hard case that requires great firmness and awareness — perseverance brings good fortune.
- 5
Line 5 · yin
Bites on dried lean meat, receives yellow gold: a difficult judgement made with impartiality and care — aware of danger, no blame.
- 6
Line 6 · yang
His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue so that the ears disappear: the one who will not listen is punished — misfortune.
Will Biting Through Appear in Your Cast?
Cast the coins on your own question — free, instant, with every moving line explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hexagram 21, Biting Through, mean?
The picture is an open mouth with something lodged between the teeth — lines one and six are the lips, and the fourth line is the obstruction. You cannot close your mouth until you bite through it. The hexagram is about decisive, sometimes forceful, resolution of a problem that has been blocking union or progress: a lie, an interference, a person who keeps getting in the way. Fire gives clarity about what is wrong; thunder gives the energy to act. Both together, and it is lawful — not vengeful.
What does Biting Through mean in love?
Something is blocking the relationship and it needs to be confronted directly — a third party, a lie, a pattern one of you keeps repeating. Biting Through says stop tiptoeing and address it. Do so with clarity (name exactly what the problem is) and energy (actually deal with it), but not cruelty. If the obstruction is a person interfering, set the boundary. The relationship cannot close its jaws around this thing forever.
What does Biting Through mean for career and money?
A problem must be dealt with decisively — a dishonest colleague, a broken contract, an obstruction to the team. The hexagram favours clear rules, clearly applied: document, state the standard, enforce it. Half-measures fail; so does rage. The energy is judicial rather than vengeful. Once the obstacle is bitten through, the way opens.
Is hexagram 21 a yes or a no?
Biting Through answers "yes". Yes — but only through decisive action; the obstacle will not remove itself.
Previous hexagram
20. Contemplation
observation
Next hexagram
22. Grace
beauty
Last updated: August 30, 2026
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