Hexagram 21.4 — Biting Through (Fourth Line)

Original Text & Translation

「噬乾胏，得金矢。利艱貞，吉。」 — Biting through dried meat with gristle; one obtains a metal arrowhead. Perseverance through difficulty brings good fortune.

The text presents a vivid scenario: you are chewing something tough and resistant — dried, sinewy meat clinging to bone. This is not pleasant or easy. Yet embedded within this difficult material is something precious: a golden or bronze arrowhead, a tool of precision and penetration. The counsel is clear: stay with the difficulty. Maintain your integrity and determination even when progress feels slow or uncomfortable. The breakthrough will come, and it will bring something of real, enduring value.

Core Meaning

The fourth line occupies a position of responsibility and proximity to authority. In Hexagram 21, which addresses the removal of obstructions through decisive action, this line represents the moment when the obstruction is particularly stubborn. It is not a simple misunderstanding or surface-level blockage; it is something deeply embedded, perhaps protected by habit, fear, or institutional inertia.

The dried meat symbolizes problems that have hardened over time — old grievances, calcified processes, entrenched resistance. The gristle and bone add texture: this is messy, unglamorous work. Yet the metal arrowhead — a tool of clarity, direction, and penetration — waits within. This line teaches that some of life's most important gains come not from avoiding hard problems but from working through them with patience and precision. The difficulty is not punishment; it is the container of the lesson.

Psychologically, this line addresses the temptation to give up when effort does not yield immediate results. It asks: can you stay present with discomfort? Can you trust that the process itself is refining you, even when the outcome is not yet visible? The "good fortune" promised here is not luck — it is the natural result of sustained, honest engagement with what resists you.

Symbolism & Imagery

The image of biting through dried meat evokes the work of justice and discernment. Hexagram 21 as a whole is about clearing the path by removing what blocks union or clarity. The fourth line specifies that some blockages are not soft or yielding; they require real force, applied carefully and consistently. The arrowhead is a symbol of truth that pierces — it is straight, sharp, and purposeful. Finding it embedded in the obstacle suggests that the truth you seek is hidden within the problem itself.

In traditional contexts, this line was often associated with legal disputes, disciplinary matters, or situations requiring firm corrective action. The modern equivalent might be: confronting a toxic pattern in a relationship, dismantling a broken system at work, or facing a personal habit that has become destructive. The "metal" quality of the arrowhead suggests durability and value — what you gain here will not decay or lose relevance. It is a principle, a skill, or a piece of self-knowledge that serves you for years.

The emphasis on perseverance through difficulty also implies that shortcuts will fail. You cannot spit out the meat and claim the arrowhead. You must chew through. This is the difference between superficial problem-solving and genuine resolution.

Action Guidance

Career & Business

• Tackle the hard project: the one everyone avoids, the legacy system, the difficult client, the underperforming process. This is your arrowhead moment.
• Document and iterate: tough problems rarely yield to one attempt. Keep notes, refine your approach, and treat setbacks as data.
• Seek precision tools: invest in training, frameworks, or expert consultation. The right methodology makes the "chewing" more effective.
• Communicate the difficulty: let stakeholders know this will take time. Under-promise and over-deliver rather than the reverse.
• Extract the lesson: once resolved, formalize what you learned. Turn the arrowhead into a repeatable asset — a process doc, a case study, a new capability.
• Resist blame and shortcuts: the temptation is to find a scapegoat or a quick patch. Neither yields the arrowhead. Stay with root causes.

Love & Relationships

• Address the recurring issue: the argument that keeps resurfacing, the unspoken resentment, the pattern neither of you names. This line says: now is the time.
• Expect discomfort: honest conversations about hard topics are rarely smooth. Prepare for defensiveness, silence, or tears. Stay present anyway.
• Focus on understanding, not winning: the arrowhead is shared clarity, not victory. Ask questions. Listen for what is underneath the words.
• Be patient with process: one conversation may not resolve it. Commit to a series of check-ins, perhaps with a counselor or mediator if needed.
• Celebrate small breakthroughs: each moment of genuine honesty is progress. Acknowledge it together.
• Know when to stop chewing: if the other person refuses engagement or the relationship is abusive, the arrowhead may be the clarity to leave.

Health & Inner Work

• Face the stubborn habit: the behavior you've tried to change a dozen times. This line suggests a deeper, more methodical approach is needed.
• Work with resistance: in therapy, bodywork, or meditation, the places that feel "stuck" or uncomfortable often hold the most insight. Breathe into them.
• Use structured support: a coach, a program, a group. Tough inner work benefits from external accountability and skill.
• Track micro-progress: healing from chronic issues (physical or emotional) is rarely linear. Notice small shifts; they compound.
• Reframe discomfort: the difficulty is not a sign you're failing. It is a sign you're working at the right depth.
• Harvest the insight: once a breakthrough occurs, journal it. The arrowhead is the principle you can apply elsewhere.

Finance & Strategy

• Audit the complex position: the investment or contract that feels opaque or tangled. Dig into the details, even if it's tedious.
• Resolve the legacy issue: old debt, unclear ownership, a stalled negotiation. Persistence now prevents larger problems later.
• Hire expertise when needed: tax advisors, legal counsel, forensic accountants. The arrowhead may be hidden in fine print or regulation.
• Expect slow progress: restructuring, litigation, or regulatory compliance rarely move quickly. Set realistic timelines and milestones.
• Protect your integrity: do not cut corners to speed resolution. The value is in doing it right, not fast.
• Capture the win: once resolved, document the process and outcome. It becomes institutional knowledge or a competitive advantage.

Timing, Signals, and Readiness

This line often appears when you are already partway through a difficult process and wondering whether to continue. The oracle's answer is: yes, continue — but with realism and support. The "good fortune" is not immediate; it comes after sustained effort. Watch for these signals that you are on the right path: (1) small pieces of clarity or progress emerge, even if slowly; (2) you feel more grounded and less reactive as you engage the problem; (3) others begin to respect or support your persistence; and (4) the problem itself starts to reveal structure or logic you couldn't see before.

If, however, you feel only exhaustion with no insight, or if the situation is actively harmful, reassess. The line counsels perseverance through difficulty, not martyrdom. The difference is whether you are learning and gaining ground, however incrementally, or simply suffering without change. The arrowhead is a real prize; if it is not appearing in any form, the obstruction may not be the right one to chew through, or your approach may need adjustment.

When This Line Moves

A moving fourth line in Hexagram 21 signals a shift from the struggle itself to the integration of what you have gained. The difficulty is resolving or has been resolved, and now the question is: what do you do with the arrowhead? The resultant hexagram (which depends on your divination method) will show the new configuration of forces once the obstruction is cleared. Often, this transition brings relief but also responsibility — you now possess a tool or insight that must be used wisely.

Practical takeaway: do not discard the arrowhead once found. It is tempting, after a hard struggle, to simply rest and forget. Instead, take time to understand what you have learned, how it applies elsewhere, and how to share or leverage it. The value of this line is not just in surviving difficulty but in becoming more capable because of it.

Concise Summary

Hexagram 21.4 asks you to persist through a tough, unglamorous challenge. The obstruction is real and resistant, but it contains something of lasting value — clarity, truth, or a tool you need. Stay with the difficulty. Use precision, patience, and integrity. Do not shortcut or blame. The arrowhead will emerge, and when it does, it will serve you far beyond this moment. Good fortune comes not from avoiding hard problems but from chewing through them completely.