TOJEONG BIGYEOL · 532
Tojeong Bigyeol Hexagram 532
The sign of a rice cake in a painting, to be looked at but not eaten
At a glance
- Hexagram
- 532
- Upper · middle · lower
- 5 · 3 · 2
- The year overall
- A year to take care
- Brighter months
- lunar month 7
- Months to take care
- lunar months 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9
Luna Alley's Tojeong readings are for fun and reflection. Read even a difficult hexagram as a guide to how you carry yourself through the year.
The original verse and its meaning
- 見而不食 畫中之餠
You can look but cannot eat; it is a rice cake in a painting. - 逆水行舟 勞力無功
Rowing against the current, your efforts earn no merit. - 小舟八海 不知安危
Entering the sea in a small boat, you cannot tell whether you are safe or in danger. - 老顔對鏡 衰生亂心
Facing the mirror with an aged face, sorrow unsettles your heart.
The verses follow the public-domain Tojeong Bigyeol held by the National Library of Korea; the meanings are Luna Alley's own retelling.
The year ahead
This is a year when things are right in front of you yet hard to get hold of. Like rowing against the current, results come slowly despite your effort. You may not see the danger, as if you'd gone out to sea in a small boat, so don't be disheartened by the aging face in the mirror; strengthen what's inside.
This year, many things are hard to grasp even when they're right in front of you. The first line, a rice cake in a painting, means that even if you see a tempting opportunity, it's hard to actually make it yours, so don't overreach because of appearances. Rowing against the current means that fighting the flow only tires you out and slows your progress. Heading out to sea in a small boat is a warning that if you jump into something big without preparation, you won't notice the danger. The last line, looking in the mirror with an aged face, means your heart may be easily shaken by the passing of time and growing older, so rather than comparing yourself to others, cherish who you are now. In the second, third, fifth, eighth and ninth lunar months, it's best not to overdo it and to take things easy. In the eighth lunar month especially, be careful around water and boats. In the seventh lunar month, money comes in with a benefactor's help, so make the most of that time. If you're careful and strengthen what's inside, you'll get through this year safely.
A word from Master Tojeong
“Do not covet the painted rice cake; cherish the rice in your hand. When the current runs strong, drawing in the oars to rest is also wisdom. Tend your heart more than the face in the mirror.”
Month by month (summary)
Only a short note and the original verse for each month. Dates are the 2027 lunar months.
- Lunar month 1Feb 7 – Mar 7Even
It's easy to miss the bright side and sink into dark thoughts this month. Rushing a decision could leave you shouldering a burden of your own making.
背月向暗 不見好月 臨事之決 自取其困 · You turn your back on the moon and face the darkness, so you can't see the lovely moon; deciding as matters arise, you bring trouble on yourself.
- Lunar month 2Mar 8 – Apr 6Care
You have the drive, but your wings won't spread this month. Acting on others' words out of frustration could cost you.
欲飛不能 心神勞苦 莫聽人言 必有其害 · You want to fly but cannot, and your heart aches; don't listen to what others say. There may be harm.
- Lunar month 3Apr 7 – May 5Care
Worries run deep at home, while stepping outside lets you breathe this month. Clinging to work that doesn't match your abilities only drains you.
入則有憂 出則心閑 汲深綆短 徒費心力 · Come in and there is worry, go out and your mind is at ease; a short bucket in a deep well, you only wear out your heart in vain.
- Lunar month 4May 6 – Jun 4Even
What you're waiting for doesn't come easily this month. But thick clouds are also a sign that rain is near.
六月炎天 密雲不雨 旱時待雨 淸風逐雨 · Under the scorching sky of the sixth lunar month, only clouds gather thick and no rain falls; wait for rain in a drought and a clear wind brings it in.
- Lunar month 5Jun 5 – Jul 3Care
Your heart feels lonely and you'll need to take care of your body this month. Avoid overloaded schedules or risky activities.
五六月令 横厄愼之 風雨凄凄 落花無語 · In the fifth and sixth lunar months, beware of unexpected trouble. The wind and rain are dreary, and the fallen flowers say nothing.
- Lunar month 6Jul 4 – Aug 1Even
Good and bad come mixed together this month. There may be some small income, but take care not to lose out in your relationships.
此月之數 吉凶相半 莫近金姓 反受其害 · This month good and bad are half and half; don't get close to someone with the surname Kim. You'll only come to harm.
- Lunar month 7Aug 2 – Aug 31Bright
This is the brightest month of your year. Small efforts return as big results, and your finances become plentiful.
小往大來 積財滿室 火姓來助 千金可得 · Little goes out and much comes in, so wealth piles up to fill the room; a person of Fire comes to help, and you can gain a thousand pieces of gold.
- Lunar month 8Sep 1 – Sep 29Care
This is a month to be careful in places connected with water. Postpone outings to the sea, rivers or valleys, and boat rides.
水殺照命 愼勿乘船 莫近水邊 必是有害 · The deadly energy of water shines on your fate, so don't board a boat or go near the water. There may be harm.
- Lunar month 9Sep 30 – Oct 28Care
Things don't go as you'd like this month. It's best to postpone long trips or moves until later.
戌亥之月 遠行不利 時運不利 事不從心 · In the ninth and tenth lunar months, long journeys bring no benefit; the times are unfavorable, so things don't follow your heart.
- Lunar month 10Oct 29 – Nov 27Even
A small but welcome harvest comes this month. You finally get hold of what you've been searching for.
此月之數 探花得實 東嶺月出 小色更新 · This month you seek flowers and gain fruit; the moon rises over the eastern ridge and its small light is renewed.
- Lunar month 11Nov 28 – Dec 27Even
You're running around busily this month. There's a lot to do and not enough time, so you may grow impatient.
事多奔走 此亦運也 日暮路遠 步步心慌 · Being busy with many tasks is also fortune; the sun is setting and the road is long, so every step feels urgent.
- Lunar month 12Dec 28 – Jan 26, 2028Even
Even after walking a long road, little stays in your hands this month. Look back and see whether you're pouring effort into a place where it's hard to take root.
山程水路 行程千里 石上種樹 有勞無功 · You travel a thousand li by mountain paths and waterways, but like planting a tree on a rock, your efforts earn no merit.
The nine readings by area (money, love, work, health and more) and the long monthly readings open in the Tojeong Bigyeol app once you find your own hexagram.
Who gets this hexagram?
The hexagram depends on your lunar birth date and the year being read. The upper number comes from your Korean age that year plus the year's taese number, the middle from the length and month number of your birth month that year, and the lower from your birth day plus the day number. So the same person gets a different hexagram each year.
For example, someone born on lunar 5/1/1986 receives this hexagram in 2027.
Find my hexagram
Frequently asked questions
Is Tojeong hexagram 532 a good one?
Hexagram 532 is read as a year that calls for keeping low and holding steady. This is a year when things are right in front of you yet hard to get hold of. Like rowing against the current, results come slowly despite your effort.
Which months need care in hexagram 532?
In hexagram 532, the lower months are lunar months 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9. Avoid rushing big decisions then, and go easy on your body and your words.
How do I find my own Tojeong hexagram?
Enter your birth date in the Luna Alley Tojeong Bigyeol page and it converts solar to lunar and works out the hexagram for you. To do it by hand, the 2027 guide shows the formula with an example.