Traditional Reading of I Ching Hexagram 4, Youthfull Folly

I Ching Hexagram 4

The hexagram 4 of the I Ching, Youthfull Folly, consists of the Mountain at the top and the Water (or the Abyss) at the bottom. The features involved here are those of the stillness of the Mountain facing the danger of the Abyss, an association which is highly dangerous and which the I Ching accordingly names Youthfull Folly. Stillness is not the correct answer to a dangerous situation and the hexagram indicates that it is foolish to do so. For this reason, it is important to educate those who do not know entirely the real weight of things and which are exemplified by young people: we must make them sensitive to the specific nature of situations. The Water flowing from the Mountain is a powerful thing, but this movement also causes the Mountain to disintegrate. The right attitude consists, then, in teaching how to correct the force of a young movement without denying it.

Quick guide for interpretation

Learning should be pursued with deep perseverance.

I Ching Hexagram 3