25 · 无妄
Hexagram 25, 无妄. Original Chinese judgment: 元亨，利貞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.
Judgment
元亨，利貞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。
Line texts
- 初九：无妄，往吉。
- 六二：不耕獲，不菑畬，則利有攸往。
- 六三：无妄之災，或繫之牛，行人之得，邑人之災。
- 九四：可貞，无咎。
- 九五：无妄之疾，勿藥有喜。
- 上九：无妄，行有眚，无攸利。
Tuan commentary
无妄，剛自外來，而為主於內。動而健，剛中而應，大亨以正，天之命也。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。无妄之往，何之矣？天命不佑，行矣哉？
Great Image commentary
天下雷行，物與无妄；先王以茂對時，育萬物。
Small Images · bottom to top
- 无妄之往，得志也。
- 不耕穫，未富也。
- 行人得牛，邑人災也。
- 可貞无咎，固有之也。
- 无妄之藥，不可試也。
- 无妄之行，窮之災也。
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese
Working translation of this site’s Chinese summaries based on traditional sources, not verbatim quotations from the commentator or a translation of the classical text. Native-language review is incomplete. Traditional imagery is not medical, legal or other professional advice.
朱熹《周易本義》
Judgment exegesis
Zhu Xi explains Wu Wang through genuine principle and naturalness: movement in Zhen and vigor in Qian, with firm centered strength in the fifth line corresponding to the second. Action must be sincere, natural and correct; departing from the proper way makes advance inappropriate.
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts
- Yang firmness within in the first line is the foundation of sincerity without falsehood. Inner truth without selfish deception allows auspicious advance and fulfillment of purpose.
- Yielding, centered correctness in the second line follows the time and principle without calculating private gain or measuring later harvest against earlier effort. Only thus is advance fitting.
- Although within Wu Wang, the third yin line is incorrectly placed and may suffer an uncaused calamity, like a traveler taking an ox while townspeople are investigated instead.
- Firm yang in the fourth line lacks proper correspondence. Hold firmly to what one already has rather than undertaking something else; maintaining the proper way can avoid blame.
- Firm, centered correctness in the fifth line also has a centered, correct correspondence, the utmost of Wu Wang. In this traditional reading, occasional illness calls for no rash intervention, with natural restoration bringing joy.
- The top yang line is not itself acting falsely, but Wu Wang has reached its extreme and circumstances are exhausted. Forced advance brings calamity without benefit.
Plain-language reading
Working translation of this site’s Chinese editorial reading, not an edition of the classical text, a verbatim quotation from a commentator or a prediction. Native-language review is not yet complete.
Judgment introduction
Wu Wang emphasizes honest, natural action in accordance with the proper way, undistorted by private motives or pretence. Calling oneself free of falsehood does not justify advancing at will; action that departs from proper principles still brings no benefit.
Plain-language reading · Line texts
- Inner sincerity without selfish deception provides a starting point for action; advancing on this basis can fulfill one's purpose.
- Acting with the time and the order of things, without first calculating how much each effort must bring in return, makes further advance appropriate.
- Even someone who has done nothing wrong may become implicated without cause. A traveler taking an ox and villagers being blamed illustrate an unforeseen misfortune.
- Holding firmly to the proper course already established, without undertaking further rash actions, can avoid blame.
- The line uses an unexpected illness without rash intervention as its image. Its focus is centered correctness without falsehood, not instructions for real medical treatment.
- Although the action itself is not false, the circumstances have reached their limit. Forcing an advance without regard to timing can still cause harm.