Hexagram 64 of 64 · King Wen order
未濟Before Completion
Wèi Jì · ䷿ · above: Fire ☲ 離 Lí · below: Water ☵ 坎 Kǎn
The transition state where the old has ended but the new has not yet solidified; requiring great care to finish the work.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
亨，小狐汔濟，濡其尾，無攸利。
Wei Žî 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.
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. 'Wei Zi intimates progress and success (in the circumstances which it implies):'—the weak (fifth) line is in the centre.
2. 'The young fox has nearly crossed the stream:'—but he has not yet escaped from the midst (of the danger and calamity).
'Its tail gets immersed. There will be no advantage in any way:'—there is not at the end a continuance (of the purpose) at the beginning. Although the places (of the different lines) are not those appropriate to them, yet a strong (line) and a weak (line always) respond to each other.
The Image 象
火在水上，未濟；君子以慎辨物居方。
(The trigram representing) water and that for fire above it form Wei Žî. The superior man, in accordance with this, carefully discriminates among (the qualities of) things, and the (different) positions they (naturally) occupy.
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)
濡其尾，吝。
The first SIX, divided, shows its subject (like a fox) whose tail gets immersed. There will be occasion for regret.
Small Image: 'His tail gets immersed:'—this is the very height of ignorance.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 38, Opposition.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
曳其輪，貞吉。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject dragging back his (carriage-) wheel. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'The second NINE, (undivided), shows good fortune arising from being firm and correct:'—it is in the central place, and the action of its subject thereby becomes correct.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 35, Progress.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
未濟，征凶，利涉大川。
The third SIX, 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.
Small Image: '(The state of things is) not yet remedied. Advancing will lead to evil:'—the place (of the line) is not that appropriate for it.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 50, The Caldron.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
貞吉，悔亡，震用伐鬼方，三年有賞于大國。
The fourth NINE, 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.
Small Image: (By firm correctness there is good fortune, and cause for repentance disappears:'—the aim (of the subject of the line) is carried into effect.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 4, Youthful Folly.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
貞吉，無悔，君子之光，有孚，吉。
The fifth SIX, 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.
Small Image: '(We see) the brightness of a superior man:—'the diffusion of that brightness tends to good fortune.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 6, Conflict.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
有孚于飲酒，無咎，濡其首，有孚失是。
The topmost NINE, 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.
Small Image: 'He drinks and gets his head immersed:'—he does not know how to submit to the (proper) regulations.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 40, Deliverance.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦63. After Completion 既濟
every line changedInverse 綜卦63. After Completion 既濟
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.