噬嗑shihe
Biting Through
See also: Wilhelm commentary for Hexagram 21
Hexagram Statement
卦辭
噬，齧也；嗑，合也。凡物之不親，由有間也。物之不齊，由有過也。有間與過，齧而合之，所以通也。刑克以通，獄之利也。
Shi means to bite; he means to close together. Whenever things are not intimate, it is because there is something separating them. Whenever things are not in order, it is because there are transgressions.
When there are separations and transgressions, one bites through and joins them together—this is how penetration is achieved. Using punishments to overcome obstacles and achieve penetration—this is the benefit of judicial proceedings.
正義曰：「噬嗑亨」者，噬，齧也；嗑，合也。物在於口，則隔其上下，若齧去其物，上下乃合而得亨也。此卦之名，假借口象以為義，以喻刑法也。凡上下之間，有物間隔，當須用刑法去之，乃得亨通，故云「噬嗑亨」也。「利用獄」者，以刑除間隔之物，故「利用獄」也。
The Correct Meaning states: 'Biting Through, Success'—shi means to bite, he means to close together. When something is in the mouth, it separates the upper and lower jaws. If one bites through and removes the object, upper and lower close together and attain success.
The name of this hexagram borrows the image of the mouth to convey its meaning, serving as a metaphor for criminal law. '
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Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏