复 Fù Returning (Turning back) [hexagram 24]

End of year

Earth over Thunder

Earth element

姤 Gòu [44] Encountering; Coming to meet

Opposite

剥 Bō [23] Disintegration; Splitting apart

Inverse

坤 Kūn [2] Acceptance; Responding

Mutual

Lunar month: 11 ; Host (controlling) line : 1

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The Descision

Returning brings progress and fulfillment. Setting out and returning causes no distress; friends arrive and there is no blame. Return on the seventh day to make progress on any enterprise.

‘Returning brings progress and fulfillment’ – return with firm resolve; it is the natural way of things. ‘Setting out and returning causes no distress; friends arrive and there is no blame. Return on the seventh day’ – following the way of Heaven. ‘Make progress on any enterprise’ – fortitude prevails in returning to the ways of Heaven and Earth.

复: 亨. 出入无疾, 朋来无咎. 反复其道, 七日来复, 利有攸往. Fù: hēng. chū rù wú jí, péng lái wú jiù. fǎn fù qí dào, qī rì láifù, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.

彖传: 复亨; 刚反, 动而以顺行, 是以出入无疾, 朋来无咎. 反复其道, 七日来复, 天行也. 利有攸往, 刚长也. 复其见天地之心乎？ Tuàn zhuàn: Fù hēng; gāng fǎn, dòng ér yǐ shùn xíng, shì yǐ chū rù wú jí, péng lái wú jiù. fǎn fù qí dào, qī rì láifù, tiān xíng yě. lì yǒu yōu wǎng, gāng zhǎng yě. fù qí jiàn tiān dì zhī xīn hū?

The Image

Thunder under earth forms ‘Returning’. In ancient times the gates to the frontiers were closed at winter solstice so that merchants were unable to travel and the ruler could not inspect the kingdom.

象传: 雷在地中, 复; 先王以至日闭关, 商旅不行, 后不省方. Xiàng zhuàn: Léi zài dì zhōng, fù; xiān wáng yǐ zhì rì bì guān, shāng lǚ bù xíng, hòu bù shěng fāng.

坤 Kūn [2] Acceptance; Responding

Line Change 1

Returning after a short journey, nothing to give regret. Excellent prospects.

‘Returning after a short journey’ – learning from experience.

初九: 不远复, 无祗悔, 元吉. Chū jiǔ: bù yuǎn fù, wú zhī huǐ, yuán jí.

象传: 不远之复, 以修身也. Xiàng zhuàn: Bù yuàn zhī fù, yǐ xiū shēn yě.

临 Lín [19] Advance; Approach

Line Change 2

Commendable return. Good fortune.

‘Commendable return’ – through kindliness.

六二: 休复, 吉. Liù èr: xiū fù, jí.

象传: 休复之吉, 以下仁也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xiū fù zhī jí, yǐ xià rén yě.

明夷 Míng yí [36] Overshadowing; Darkening

Line Change 3

Habitual returns. Danger but no fault.

Danger after habitual return – no fault because the aims are laudable.

六三: 频复, 厉无咎. Liù sān: pín fù, lì wú jiù.

象传: 频复之厉, 义无咎也. Xiàng zhuàn: Pín fù zhī lì, yì wú jiù yě.

震 Zhèn [51] Energizing; Arousal

Line Change 4

Following the middle path and returning alone.

‘Following the middle path and returning alone’ – continuing on the correct way.

六四: 中行独复. Liù sì: zhōng háng dú fù.

象传: 中行独复, 以从道也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhōng háng dú fù, yǐ cóng dào yě.

屯 Zhūn [3] Slow progress; Inhibition

Line Change 5

Heartfelt return. No regrets.

‘Heartfelt return. No regrets’ – striving to remain centered.

六五: 敦复, 无悔. Liù wǔ: dūn fù, wú huǐ.

象传: 敦复无悔, 中以自考也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dūn fù wú huǐ, zhōng yǐ zì kǎo yě.

颐 Yí [27] Nourishment; Food

Line Change 6

Indecisive about returning – misfortune. There will be disaster. If advising others there will be calamities which will affect everyone. It will take over ten years to repair the situation.

There are bad consequences from being ‘indecisive about returning’ as this an inappropriate course of action.

上六: 迷复, 凶, 有灾眚. 用行师, 终有大败, 以其国君, 凶; 至于十年, 不克征. Shàng liù: mí fù, xiōng, yǒu zāi shěng. yòng xíng shī, zhōng yǒu dà bài, yǐ qí guó jūn, xiōng; zhì yú shí nián, bù kè zhēng?

象传: 迷复之凶, 反君道也. Xiàng zhuàn: Mí fù zhī xiōng, fǎn jūn dào yě.

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复 Fù Returning (Turning back) [hexagram 24]

The Descision

The Image

See also