Wèi jì Unfinished Almost complete [hexagram 64]

Yang line Yin - controlling line Yang line Yin line Yang line Yin line

Disorder, just short of accomplishment
Fire over
Water
Fire Fire element

Water Fire
Jì jì [63] Consumation; Sated
Opposite, Inverse and Mutual

Lunar month: 11 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
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狐汔 Wèi jì hēng xiǎo hú qì jì rú qí wěi yōu lì

Wei Ji intimates progress and success (in the circumstances which it implies). (We see) a young fox that has nearly crossed (the stream), when its tail gets immersed. There will be no advantage in any way.

”,.“狐汔”,. “濡,”,., Wèi jì? hēng?, róu dé zhòng yě.? xiǎo hú qì jì?,wèi chū zhōng yě.? rú qí wěi, wú yōu lì?, bù xù zhōng yě. suī bù dàng wèi, gāng róu yīng yě

‘Wei Ji intimates progress and success (in the circumstances which it implies):’ - the weak (fifth) line is in the center. ‘The young fox has nearly crossed the stream:’ - but he has not yet escaped from the midst (of the danger and calamity). ‘Its tail gets immersed. There will be no advantage in any way:’ - there is not at the end a continuance (of the purpose) at the beginning. Although the places (of the different lines) are not those appropriate to them, yet a strong (line) and a weak (line always) respond to each other.

, . 慎辨 Huǒ zài shuǐ shàng, wèi jì. Jūn zǐ yǐ shèn biàn wù jī fāng

The trigram representing) water and that for fire above it form Wei Ji. The superior man, in accordance with this, carefully discriminates among (the qualities of) things, and the (different) positions they (naturally) occupy.

young yang young yin young yang young yin young yang changing yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Lake
Kuí [38] Opposition; Diversity
Change
: 濡, 吝 Chū liù: rú qí wěi, lìn

The first ‘six’, divided, shows its subject (like a fox) whose tail gets immersed. There will be occasion for regret.

, Rú qí wěi, yì bù zhī jí yě

‘His tail gets immersed:’ - this is the very height of ignorance.

young yang young yin young yang young yin changing yang young yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Earth
Jìn [35] Rapid advance; Gain ground
Change
: 曳轮, Jiǔ èr: yè qí lún, zhēn jí

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject dragging back his (carriage-) wheel. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.

, Jiǔ èr zhēn jí, zhòng yǐ xíng zhèng yě

‘The second ‘nine’, (undivided), shows good fortune arising from being firm and correct:’ - it is in the central place, and the action of its subject thereby becomes correct.

young yang young yin young yang changing yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Wind
Dǐng [50] Containment; Creation
Change
: , ,, Liù sān: wèi jì, zhēng, xiōng, lì shè dà chuān

The third ‘six’, divided, shows its subject, with (the state of things) not yet remedied, advancing on; which will lead to evil. But there will be advantage in (trying to) cross the great stream.

, , Wèi jì, zhēng xiōng, wèi bù dàng yě

‘(The state of things is) not yet remedied. Advancing will lead to evil:’ - the place (of the line) is not that appropriate for it.

young yang young yin changing yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Mountain
Water
Méng [4] Initiation; Immaturity
Change
: , . , , Jiǔ sì: zhēn jí, huǐ wáng. Zhèn yòng fá guǐ fāng, sān nián, yǒu shǎng yú dà guó

The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject by firm correctness obtaining good fortune, so that all occasion for repentance disappears. Let him stir himself up, as if he were invading the Demon region, where for three years rewards will come to him (and his troops) from the great kingdom.

, , Zhēn jí, huǐ wáng, zhì xíng yě

(By firm correctness there is good fortune, and cause for repentance disappears:‘ - the aim (of the subject of the line) is carried into effect.

young yang changing yin young yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Water
Sòng [6] Strife; Contention
Change
: , . ,, Liù wǔ: zhēn jí, wú huǐ. Jūn zǐ zhī guāng, yǒu fú, jí

The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows its subject by firm correctness obtaining good fortune, and having no occasion for repentance. (We see in him) the brightness of a superior man, and the possession of sincerity. There will be good fortune.

, Jūn zǐ zhī guāng, qí huī jí yě

‘(We see) the brightness of a superior man: - ’ the diffusion of that brightness tends to good fortune.

changing yang young yin young yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Wood
Water
Xiè [40] Disentangle; Relief
Change
: , .濡. , Shàng jiǔ: yǒu fú yú yǐn jiǔ, wú jiù. Rú qí shǒu. yǒu fú, shī shì

The topmost ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject full of confidence and therefore feasting (quietly). There will be no error. (If he) cherish this confidence, till he (is like the fox who) gets his head immersed, it will fail of what is right.

, Yǐn jiǔ rú shǒu, yì bù zhī jié yě

‘He drinks and gets his head immersed:’ - he does not know how to submit to the (proper) regulations.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also