King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 48 井 changing to hexagram 25 无妄

jǐng
→
wú wàng

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 4, 6.

What to read

Five changing lines: read the one unchanged line of the resulting hexagram. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)

Hexagram 25 无妄, line 5

无妄之疾,勿藥有喜。

The fifth line, undivided, shows one who is free from insincerity, and yet has fallen ill. Let him not use medicine, and he will have occasion for joy (in his recovery).

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 48 井 — judgment

改邑不改井,无喪无得,往來井井。汔至亦未繘井。羸其瓶,凶。

(Looking at) Zing, (we think of) how (the site of) a town may be changed, while (the fashion of) its wells undergoes no change. (The water of a well) never disappears and never receives (any great) increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit. If (the drawing) have nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water, the bucket is broken, this is evil.

Hexagram 25 无妄 — judgment

元亨。利貞。其匪正有眚,不利有攸往。

Wû Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.

The changing lines of hexagram 48

LineChineseLegge
1井泥不食,舊井无禽。The first line, divided, shows a well so muddy that men will not drink of it; or an old well to which neither birds (nor other creatures) resort.
2井谷射鮒,瓮敝漏。The second line, undivided, shows a well from which by a hole the water escapes and flows away to the shrimps (and such small creatures among the grass), or one the water of which leaks away from a broken basket.
3井渫不食,為我心惻,可用汲,王明,並受其福。The third line, undivided, shows a well, which has been cleared out, but is not used. Our hearts are sorry for this, for the water might be drawn out and used. If the king were (only) intelligent, both he and we might receive the benefit of it.
4井甃,无咎。The fourth line, divided, shows a well, the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error.
6井收勿幕,有孚元吉。The topmost line, divided, shows (the water from) the well brought to the top, which is not allowed to be covered. This suggests the idea of sincerity. There will be great good fortune.

English: James Legge (1882), public domain. Chinese: Zhou Yi.

Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.