陽退居上、被觀察、秋分之卦
Judgment and its commentary
先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。Read the received text first, then its Tuan commentary.
觀：盥而不薦，有孚顒若。
觀——已經洗手準備祭祀，但還沒開始獻祭。在那個整肅莊嚴的一瞬間，誠信顯露出莊嚴的樣子。 觀的智慧是在行動之前的那一刻—充滿內在的誠而尚未表達。
Guan shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;—with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).
大觀在上，順而巽，中正以觀天下。「觀盥而不薦，有孚顒若」，下觀而化也。觀天之神道，而四時不忒，聖人以神道設教，而天下服矣。
至大的觀在上—上卦巽順而入，中位九五以中正觀天下。「觀盥而不薦，有孚顒若」—下面看到上面的莊嚴就自然受教化。觀天的神道而四時不失，聖人以神道設教而天下歸服。
The great Manifester occupies an upper place (in the figure), which consists of (the trigrams whose attributes are) docility and flexibility. He is in the central position and his correctness, and thus exhibits (his lessons) to all under heaven. 'Guan shows its subject like a worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;—with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard):'—(all) beneath look to him and are transformed. When we contemplate the spirit-like way of Heaven, we see how the four seasons proceed without error. The sages, in accordance with (this) spirit-like way, laid down their instructions, and all under heaven yield submission to them.
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
風行地上，觀
(The trigram representing) the wind, and that for the earth beneath it, form Guan.
先王以省方觀民設教。
The ancient kings, in accordance with this, examined the (different) regions (of the kingdom), to see the (ways of the) people, and set forth their instructions.
風行在地上—觀之象。先王仿此：巡視各方、觀察人民的風俗、據此設立教化。 觀不只是看，是仔細觀察後據以行動。
本站導讀，不屬《大象傳》原文；用來預覽本卦六爻由初至上的意象變化。An editorial preview of the six line images, not part of the Great Image Commentary.
童觀，小人无咎，君子吝。
童蒙般的看—小人無咎，君子吝。 以幼稚的視角觀察。一般人還可以，但君子應該看得更深，停在童觀是一種遺憾。
The first SIX, divided, shows the looking of a lad;—not blamable in men of inferior rank, but matter for regret in superior men.
初六童觀，小人道也。
初六童觀—小人之道。
'The looking of a lad shown by the first SIX' indicates the way of the small men (in inferior position).
闚觀，利女貞。
從門縫偷看—利女子守正。 窄視角的觀察。在內室看出去的女子守此道是對的；對君子來說不夠。
The second SIX, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous merely for a woman to be firm and correct.
闚觀女貞，亦可醜也。
闚觀女貞—也可算醜（限制）。
'The peeping observation of a woman,' though it may be advantageous and correct, is still not respectable.
觀我生，進退。
觀察自己一生的行動—據此決定進還是退。 六三是自我反思的位置—不看別人，先看自己。
The third SIX, divided, shows one looking at (the course of) his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly).
觀我生，進退；未失道也。
觀我生決定進退—還沒失去道。
'He looks at the course of his own life, to advance or recede:'—he has not yet lost his (proper) course.
觀國之光，利用賓于王。
觀一個國家的光彩（風化文明）—利於作為賓客在王那裡。 看到好的治理而願意為之服務—觀而入仕的時機。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one contemplating the glory of the kingdom. It will be advantageous for him, being such as he is, (to seek) to be a guest of the king.
觀國之光，尚賓也。
觀國之光—是尊重賓客之意。
'He contemplates the glory of the kingdom:'—(the subject of the line is fitted to be) honoured as a guest.
觀我生，君子无咎。
觀察自己一生—君子無咎。 君位但仍自觀—不因居高而不自省。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows one contemplating his own life-course. A superior man, he will (thus) fall into no error.
觀我生，觀民也。
觀我生—同時也是在觀民（自己的政化反映於民的樣子）。
'He contemplates his own life-course:'—he should (for that purpose) contemplate (the condition of) the people.
觀其生，君子无咎。
觀別人的生命—君子無咎。 上九居卦之終，不再是自觀而是觀他人。看別人的行為反思自己的道。
The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it is indeed that of a superior man. (If it be so), there will be no error.
觀其生，志未平也。
觀其生—心志還沒平安。
'He contemplates his character (to see if it indeed be that of a superior man):'—he cannot yet let his mind be at rest.
To observe (active) / a tower-view that others observe (passive). Both readings operate in this hexagram.
Ritual hand-washing before sacrifice. The integrity moment before ceremony begins.
To present an offering. The contrast in 盥而不薦: the moment between preparation and action.
Dignified, solemn appearance. Inner solemnity manifesting outwardly without performance.
The lad's gaze — child-like, unrefined. Adequate for ordinary life, inadequate for governance.
To peep through a crack. Restricted view; the same word for furtive observation.
Light, glory. Line 4's '觀國之光' = seeing a country's cultivated brilliance — the moment to enter as guest/servant.
