36. Darkening of the Light

Trigrams

The Judgment

Darkening of the Light. In adversity it furthers one to be persevering.

The Image

Earth above fire — the light sinks beneath the earth. The sun sets. The wise person, in dealing with the masses, conceals their brilliance yet still shines.

Interpretation

Your light must be hidden. The environment is hostile to brightness — whether that means incompetent leadership, dangerous circumstances, or a culture that punishes excellence. The task is to maintain your inner light while veiling your outer brilliance. This is survival strategy, not surrender. Keep your wisdom and virtue alive within you, but do not display them where they will be attacked.