未济 Wèi jì Almost there (Not yet fulfilled) [hexagram 64]
Fire over Water
Fire element
Lunar month: 11 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
未济 亨 小狐汔济 濡其尾 无攸利 Wèi jì hēng xiǎo hú qì jì rú qí wěi yōu lì
Wei Ji 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.
未济“亨”,柔得中也.“小狐汔济”,未出中也. “濡其尾,无攸利”,不续终也.虽不当位,刚柔应也 Wèi jì? hēng?, róu dé zhòng yě.? xiǎo hú qì jì?,wèi chū zhōng yě.? rú qí wěi, wú yōu lì?, bù xù zhōng yě. suī bù dàng wèi, gāng róu yīng yě‘Wei Ji intimates progress and success (in the circumstances which it implies):’ - the weak (fifth) line is in the center. ‘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.
火在水上, 未济. 君子以慎辨物居方 Huǒ zài shuǐ shàng, wèi jì. Jūn zǐ yǐ shèn biàn wù jī fāngThe trigram representing) water and that for fire above it form Wei Ji. The superior man, in accordance with this, carefully discriminates among (the qualities of) things, and the (different) positions they (naturally) occupy.
初六: 濡其尾, 吝 Chū liù: rú qí wěi, lìn
The first ‘six’, divided, shows its subject (like a fox) whose tail gets immersed. There will be occasion for regret.
濡其尾, 亦不知极也 Rú qí wěi, yì bù zhī jí yě‘His tail gets immersed:’ - this is the very height of ignorance.
九二: 曳其轮, 贞吉 Jiǔ èr: yè qí lún, zhēn jí
The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject dragging back his (carriage-) wheel. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
九二贞吉, 中以行正也 Jiǔ èr zhēn jí, zhòng yǐ xíng zhèng yě‘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.
六三: 未济, 征,凶, 利涉大川 Liù sān: wèi jì, zhēng, xiōng, lì shè dà chuān
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.
未济, 征凶, 位不当也 Wèi jì, zhēng xiōng, wèi bù dàng yě‘(The state of things is) not yet remedied. Advancing will lead to evil:’ - the place (of the line) is not that appropriate for it.
九四: 贞吉, 悔亡. 震用伐鬼方, 三年, 有赏于大国 Jiǔ sì: zhēn jí, huǐ wáng. Zhèn yòng fá guǐ fāng, sān nián, yǒu shǎng yú dà guó
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.
贞吉, 悔亡, 志行也 Zhēn jí, huǐ wáng, zhì xíng yě(By firm correctness there is good fortune, and cause for repentance disappears:‘ - the aim (of the subject of the line) is carried into effect.
六五: 贞吉, 无悔. 君子之光,有孚, 吉 Liù wǔ: zhēn jí, wú huǐ. Jūn zǐ zhī guāng, yǒu fú, jí
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.
君子之光, 其晖吉也 Jūn zǐ zhī guāng, qí huī jí yě‘(We see) the brightness of a superior man: - ’ the diffusion of that brightness tends to good fortune.
上九: 有孚于饮酒, 无咎.濡其首. 有孚, 失是 Shàng jiǔ: yǒu fú yú yǐn jiǔ, wú jiù. Rú qí shǒu. yǒu fú, shī shì
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.
饮酒濡首, 亦不知节也 Yǐn jiǔ rú shǒu, yì bù zhī jié yě‘He drinks and gets his head immersed:’ - he does not know how to submit to the (proper) regulations.