Hexagram 40 of 64 · King Wen order
解Deliverance
Xiè · ䷧ · above: Thunder ☳ 震 Zhèn · below: Water ☵ 坎 Kǎn
The resolution of tension and the relief that follows a period of obstruction; a time to clear the air.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
利西南，無所往，其來復吉。有攸往，夙吉。
In (the state indicated by) Kieh advantage will be found in the south-west. If no (further) operations be called for, there will be good fortune in coming back (to the old conditions). If some operations be called for, there will be good fortune in the early conducting of them.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. In Kieh we have (the trigram expressive of) peril going on to that expressive of movement. By movement there is an escape from the peril:—(this is the meaning of) Kieh.
2. 'In (the state indicated by) Kieh, advantage will be found in the south-west:'—the movement (thus) intimated will win all. That 'there will be good fortune in coming back (to the old conditions)' shows that such action is that of the due medium. That 'if some operations be necessary, there will be good fortune in the early conducting of them' shows that such operations will be successful.
3. When heaven and earth are freed (from the grasp of winter), we have thunder and rain. When these come, the buds of the plants and trees that produce the various fruits begin to burst. Great indeed are the phenomena in the time intimated by Kieh.
The Image 象
雷雨作，解；君子以赦過宥罪。
(The trigram representing) thunder and that for rain, with these phenomena in a state of manifestation, form Kieh. The superior man, in accordance with this, forgives errors, and deals gently with crimes.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
無咎。
The first SIX, divided, shows that its subject will commit no error.
Small Image: The strong (fourth) line and the weak line here are in correlation:—we judge rightly in saying that 'its subject will commit no error.'
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 54, The Marrying Maiden.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
田獲三狐，得黃矢，貞吉。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject catch, in hunting, three foxes, and obtain the yellow (= golden) arrows. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'The good fortune springing from the firm correctness of the second NINE, (undivided),' is due to its subject holding the due mean.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 16, Enthusiasm.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
負且乘，致寇至，貞吝。
The third SIX, divided, shows a porter with his burden, (yet) riding in a carriage. He will (only) tempt robbers to attack him. However firm and correct he may (try to) be, there will be cause for regret.
Small Image: For 'a porter with his burden to be riding in a carriage' is a thing to be ashamed of. 'It is he himself that tempts the robbers to come:'—on whom besides can we lay the blame?
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 32, Duration.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
解而拇，朋至斯孚。
(To the subject of) the fourth NINE, undivided, (it is said), 'Remove your toes. Friends will (then) come, between you and whom there will be mutual confidence.'
Small Image: 'Remove your toes:'—the places (of this line and of the third and first) are all inappropriate to them.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 7, The Army.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
君子維有解，吉；有孚于小人。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows (its subject), the superior man (= the ruler), executing his function of removing (whatever is injurious to the idea of the hexagram), in which case there will be good fortune, and confidence in him will be shown even by the small men.
Small Image: When 'the superior man executes his function of removing (whatever is injurious to the idea of the hexagram),' small men will of themselves retire.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 47, Oppression.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
公用射隼，于高墉之上，獲之，無不利。
In the sixth SIX, divided, we see a feudal prince (with his bow) shooting at a falcon on the top of a high wall, and hitting it. (The effect of his action) will be in every way advantageous.
Small Image: 'A prince with his bow shoots a falcon:'—thus he removes (the promoters of) rebellion.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 64, Before Completion.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦37. The Family 家人
every line changedInverse 綜卦39. Obstruction 蹇
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.