38 · 睽

Hexagram 38, 睽. Original Chinese judgment: 小事吉。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.

Judgment

小事吉。

《周易》通行本

Line texts

  1. 初九：悔亡，喪馬勿逐，自復；見惡人无咎。
  2. 九二：遇主于巷，无咎。
  3. 六三：見輿曳，其牛掣，其人天且劓，无初有終。
  4. 九四：睽孤，遇元夫，交孚，厲无咎。
  5. 六五：悔亡，厥宗噬膚，往何咎。
  6. 上九：睽孤，見豕負塗，載鬼一車，先張之弧，後說之弧，匪寇婚媾，往遇雨則吉。

Tuan commentary

睽，火動而上，澤動而下；二女同居，其志不同行；說而麗乎明，柔進而上行，得中而應乎剛；是以小事吉。天地睽，而其事同也；男女睽，而其志通也；萬物睽，而其事類也；睽之時用大矣哉！

维基文库 · 周易 · 睽

Great Image commentary

上火下澤，睽；君子以同而異。

Small Images · bottom to top

  1. 見惡人，以辟咎也。
  2. 遇主于巷，未失道也。
  3. 見輿曳，位不當也。无初有終，遇剛也。
  4. 交孚无咎，志行也。
  5. 厥宗噬膚，往有慶也。
  6. 遇雨之吉，群疑亡也。

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》

維基文庫 · 周易本義（四庫全書本）卷二

Judgment exegesis

Zhu Xi explains Kui through fire moving upward and the lake downward, their natures diverging. Although there is joy in the inner trigram and clarity in the outer trigram, with the centered fifth yin line corresponding to the second yang line, connection amid divergence should still be sought through small matters.

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts

  1. In divergence, the first yang line still corresponds with those sharing virtue, like a lost horse returning without pursuit. Appropriate contact with those who differ is also needed to avoid blame.
  2. The second yang and fifth yin lines properly correspond but must seek one another indirectly in a time of separation, like meeting in a lane. Grounded in proper correspondence, this does not lose the way.
  3. The third yin line properly corresponds with the top yang line but is constrained by the second and fourth and deeply suspected by the top. Despite initial harm, the proper correspondence ultimately unites.
  4. The fourth yang line is isolated without correspondence but meets the first, which shares its virtue, and connects through trustworthiness. Vigilance in divergence allows freedom from blame and fulfillment of purpose.
  5. Yin in a yang fifth position could bring regret, but holding the center and corresponding with the second makes union easy, like biting tender flesh. Once meeting is possible, advancing need bring no blame.
  6. Firmness at the extreme of clarity in the top line suspects most deeply, imagining its proper third-line correspondence as filth and ghosts. Gradual release of suspicion and recognition that it is not an enemy remove doubts and turn toward auspiciousness.

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

Kui describes divergence in character and direction. Inner harmony and joy, together with outward clarity, can still find connection amid differences. Conditions are limited, however, so begin with small matters and particular relationships.

Plain-language reading · Line texts

  1. Amid divergence, those sharing virtue can still respond to one another, like a lost horse returning without pursuit. Appropriate contact with those who differ is also needed to avoid mistakes.
  2. A proper correspondence already exists, but estrangement requires an indirect approach, like meeting in a lane. The approach is circuitous without abandoning the proper way.
  3. Pulled from ahead and behind and deeply suspected, one suffers harm at first. Those truly corresponding can nevertheless come together in the end.
  4. Isolated without correspondence, one meets a person of shared virtue and connects through trustworthiness. Vigilance toward danger is still needed to carry out one's purpose.
  5. Holding a central position and joining with the proper corresponding partner makes meeting easy. Advancing can be without blame.
  6. At the height of suspicion, the proper corresponding partner is imagined as a strange creature and an enemy. Only as suspicion lifts can divergence become union.

Read the source