King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 64 未濟 changing to hexagram 39 蹇

wèi jì
→
jiǎn

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 4, 5, 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 39 蹇, line 1

往蹇,來譽。

From the first line, divided, we learn that advance (on the part of its subject) will lead to (greater) difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 64 未濟 — judgment

亨。小狐汔濟,濡其尾,无攸利。

Wei Zî 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.

Hexagram 39 蹇 — judgment

利西南,不利東北;利見大人,貞吉。

In (the state indicated Kien advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man. (In these circumstances), with firmness and correctness, there will be good fortune.

The changing lines of hexagram 64

LineChineseLegge
2曳其輪,貞吉。The second line, undivided, shows its subject dragging back his (carriage-)wheel. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
3未濟,征凶,利涉大川。The third line, 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.
4貞吉,悔亡,震用伐鬼方,三年有賞于大國。The fourth line, 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.
5貞吉,无悔,君子之光,有孚,吉。The fifth line, 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.
6有孚于飲酒,无咎,濡其首,有孚失是。The topmost line, 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.

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.