Kuí Opposition Diversity [hexagram 38]

Yang line Yin - controlling line Yang line Yin line Yang line Yang line

Separation
Fire over
Lake
Fire Fire element

Water Mountain
Jiǎn [39] Obstruction; Hardship
Opposite
Wind Fire
Jiā rén [37] Relationship; Domesticity
Inverse
Water Fire
Jì jì [63] Consumation; Sated
Mutual

Lunar month: 12 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
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睽: . Kuí: xiǎo shì jí.

Kui indicates that, (notwithstanding the condition of things which it denotes), in small matters there will (still) be good success.

: 睽, , ; , ; , , ; . 睽, ; 睽, ; 睽, ; 睽矣哉! Tuàn zhuàn: Kuí, huǒ dòng ér shàng, zé dòng ér xià; èr nǚ tóng jū, qí zhì bù tóng xíng; shuō ér lì hū míng, róu jìn ér shàng xíng, dé zhòng ér yīng hū gāng; shì yǐ xiǎo shì jí. Tiān dìkuí, ér qí shì tóng yě; nán nǚ kuí, ér qí zhì tōng yě; wàn wùkuí, ér qí shì lèi yě; kuí zhī shí yòng dà yǐ zāi!

In Kui we have (the symbol of) Fire, which, when moved, tends upwards, and that of a Marsh, whose waters, when moved, tend downwards. We have (also the symbols of) two sisters living together, but whose wills do not move in the same direction. (We see how the inner trigram expressive of) harmonious satisfaction is attached to (the outer expressive of) bright intelligence; (we see) the weak line advanced and acting above, and how it occupies the central place, and is responded to by the strong (line below). These indications show that ‘in small matters there will (still) be good fortune.’ Heaven and earth are separate and apart, but the work which they do is the same. Male and female are separate and apart, but with a common will they seek the same object. There is diversity between the myriad classes of beings, but there is an analogy between their several operations. Great indeed are the phenomena and the results of this condition of disunion and separation.

: , 睽; . Xiàng zhuàn: Shàng huǒ xià zé, kuí; jūn zǐ yǐ tóng ér yì.

(The trigram representing) fire above, and that for (the waters of) a marsh below, form Kui. The superior man, in accordance with this, where there is a general agreement, yet admits diversity.

young yang young yin young yang young yin young yang changing yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Water
Wèi jì [64] Unfinished; Almost complete
Change
: , 逐, 复; . Chū jiǔ: huǐ wáng, sàng mǎ wù zhú, zì fù; jiàn è rén wú jiù.

The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows that (to its subject) occasion for repentance will disappear. He has lost his horses, but let him not seek for them - they will return of themselves. Should he meet with bad men, he will not err (in communicating with them).

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiàn è rén, yǐ bì jiù yě.

‘He meets with bad men (and communicates with them):’ - (he does so), to avoid the evil of their condemnation.

young yang young yin young yang young yin changing yang young yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Wood
噬嗑 Shì kè [21] Gnawing; Eradicating
Change
: 巷, . Jiǔ èr: yù zhǔ yú xiàng, wú jiù.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject happening to meet with his lord in a bye-passage. There will be no error.

: 巷, . Xiàng zhuàn: Yù zhǔ yú xiàng, wèi shī dào yě.

‘He happens to meet with his lord in a bye-passage:’ - but he has not deviated (for this meeting) from the (proper) course.

young yang young yin young yang changing yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Heaven
Dà yǒu [14] Profusion; Great harvest
Change
: 舆曳, 掣, 劓, . Liù sān: xiàn yú yè, qí niú chè, qí rén tiān qiě yì, wú chū yǒu zhōng.

In the third ‘six’, divided, we see one whose carriage is dragged back, while the oxen in it are pushed back, and he is himself subjected to the shaving of his head and the cutting off of his nose. There is no good beginning, but there will be a good end.

: 舆曳, . , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiàn yú yè, wèi bù dàng yě. wú chū yǒu zhōng, yù gāng yě.

‘We see his carriage dragged back:’ - this is indicated by the inappropriateness of the position (of the line). ‘There is no (good) beginning, but there will be a (good) end:’ - this arises from his meeting with the strong (subject of the topmost line).

young yang young yin changing yang young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Mountain
Lake
Sǔn [41] Diminution; Reduction
Change
: 睽孤, , , . Jiǔ sì: kuí gū, yù yuán fū, jiāo fú, lì wú jiù.

The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the (prevailing) disunion. (But) he meets with the good man (represented by the first line), and they blend their sincere desires together. The position is one of peril, but there will be no mistake.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiāo fú wú jiù, zhì xíng yě.

‘They blend their sincere desires together, and there will be no error:’ - their (common) aim is carried into effect.

young yang changing yin young yang young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Heaven
Lake
[10] Slow advance; Fulfillment
Change
: , 厥宗噬肤, . Liù wǔ: huǐ wáng, jué zōng shì fū, wǎng hé jiù.

The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows that (to its subject) occasion for repentance will disappear. With his relative (and minister he unites closely and readily) as if he were biting through a piece of skin. When he goes forward (with this help), what error can there be?

: 厥宗噬肤, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jué zōng shì fū, wǎng yǒu qìng yě.

‘With his hereditary minister (he unites closely and easily) as if he were biting through a piece of skin:’ - his going forward will afford ground for congratulation.

changing yang young yin young yang young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Wood
Lake
Guī mèi [54] Union; Marrying Maiden
Change
: 睽孤, 负涂, , 弧, 弧, 媾, . Shàng jiǔ: kuí gū, jiàn shǐ fù tú, zài guǐ yī chē, xiān zhāng zhī hú, hòu shuō zhī hú, fěi kòu hūn gòu, wǎng yù yù zé jí?

The topmost ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the (prevailing) disunion. (In the subject of the third line, he seems to) see a pig bearing on its back a load of mud, (or fancies) there is a carriage full of ghosts. He first bends his bow against him, and then unbends it, (for he discovers) that he is not an assailant to injure, but a near relative. Going forward, he shall meet with (genial) rain, and there will be good fortune.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Yù yù zhī jí, qún yí wáng yě.

‘The good fortune symbolized by meeting with (genial) rain’ springs from the passing away of all doubts.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also