節以制度，不傷財不害民
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.
節，亨。苦節不可貞。
節卦——亨通。但苦節（過度的節制）不可長久守持。節以適中為要——過度則反害。
Jie intimates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and attainment. (But) if the regulations (which it prescribes) be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent.
節亨，剛柔分而剛得中。苦節不可貞，其道窮也。說以行險，當位以節，中正以通。天地節而四時成。節以制度，不傷財，不害民。
節亨——剛柔分明而剛得中（九五）。苦節不可長守是其道走到極致。悅（兌）以行險（坎），當位以節制——中正則通。天地有節，所以四時成。節以制度，不傷財不害民。
Jie intimates progress and attainment — the strong and weak (lines) are equally divided, and the strong lines occupy the central places. 'If its regulations be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent' — its course (of action) will (in that case) come to an end.
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
澤上有水，節
(The trigram representing) a lake, and above it that for water, form Jie.
君子以制數度，議德行。
The superior man, in accordance with this, constructs his (methods of) numbering and measurement, and discusses (points of) virtue and conduct.
澤上有水——節之象。澤所容有限，過則溢。君子由此體會：要制定度量制度、評議道德行為。一切有度才能持久。
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.
不出戶庭，無咎。
不出於戶庭——無咎。陽剛之始，知時當止——不輕舉妄動，故無咎。
The first NINE shows its subject not quitting the courtyard outside his door. There will be no error.
不出戶庭，知通塞也。
不出戶庭，是知道通塞之機。
不出門庭，凶。
不出於門庭——凶。陽剛得中而當行不行——時已可動而不動，反為凶。「不出戶庭」與「不出門庭」之別在時機。
The second NINE shows its subject not quitting the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil.
不出門庭凶，失時極也。
不出門庭凶，是錯失時機之極。
不節若，則嗟若，無咎。
不能節制就會嗟嘆——無咎。陰柔失正而能自悔（嗟若），故無咎。失節後能悔即是節。
The third SIX shows its subject with no appearance of observing the (proper) regulations, in which case we shall see him lamenting. But there will be no one to blame (but himself).
不節之嗟，又誰咎也。
不節制的嗟嘆，又能怪誰呢。
安節，亨。
安然行節——亨通。陰柔得正而能自然安於節——是節的中道。
The fourth SIX shows its subject quietly and naturally (attentive to all) regulations. There will be progress and success.
安節之亨，承上道也。
安節之亨，是承上之道（九五君位）。
甘節，吉，往有尚。
甘美的節制——吉，前往有所崇尚。陽剛中正——以中道之節為甘，能讓人樂於遵從。
The fifth NINE shows its subject sweetly and acceptably enacting his regulations. There will be good fortune. The onward progress with them will afford ground for admiration.
甘節之吉，居位中也。
甘節之吉，是居於中位。
苦節，貞凶，悔亡。
苦的節制——守正則凶，悔亡。節之極為苦——不可長守，但若能反省則悔可亡。
The topmost SIX shows its subject enacting regulations severe and difficult. Even with firmness and correctness there will be evil. But though there will be cause for repentance, it will (by-and-by) disappear.
苦節貞凶，其道窮也。
苦節貞凶，是其道走到極致。
Restraint, measure, regulation. Originally a bamboo joint — the natural segment that gives the stalk its strength. Rhythm, not suppression.
Bitter restraint — discipline pushed into suffering; restraint in excess, which cannot be held to.
The courtyard outside one's door. Line 1: staying within it when stopping is right — no blame.
The courtyard inside the gate. Line 2: staying there when it is time to move — ominous. One step's difference from 戶庭, decided by timing.
To sigh, lament — the regret that follows a lapse of restraint, and (in line 3) redeems it.
Sweet, agreeable. Restraint that tastes sweet — kept willingly, by oneself and others.
To establish standards of number and measure — the Great Image's institutional side of restraint.
