Xiè Disentangle Relief [hexagram 40]

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

Liberation, dissection, analysis

Thunder over Water
Wood Wood element

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

Lunar month: 2 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
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解: 西, , . , 夙. Jiě: lì xī nán, wú suǒ wǎng, qí lái fù jí. yǒu yōu wǎng, sù jí.

In (the state indicated by) Jie 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.

: 解, , , 解. 解西, . , . , . 解, , , 坼, 解矣哉! Tuàn zhuàn: Jiě, xiǎn yǐ dòng, dòng ér miǎn hū xiǎn, jiě. jiě lì xī nán, wǎng dé zhòng yě. qí lái fù jí, nǎi dé zhòng yě. yǒu yōu wǎng sù jí, wǎng yǒu gōng yě. tiān dìjiě, ér léi yǔ zuò, léi yǔ zuò, ér bǎi guǒ cǎo mù jiē jiǎ chè, jiě zhī shí dà yǐ zāi!

In Jie 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) Jie. 'In (the state indicated by) Jie, 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. 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 Jie.

: , 解; 宥罪 Xiàng zhuàn: Léi yǔ zuò, jiě; jūn zǐ yǐ shè guò yòu zuì

(The trigram representing) thunder and that for rain, with these phenomena in a state of manifestation, form Jie. The superior man, in accordance with this, forgives errors, and deals gently with crimes.

young yin young yin young yang young yin young yang changing yin
I Ching transform
Thunder
Lake
Guī mèi [54] Union; Marrying Maiden
Change
: . Chū liù: wú jiù.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows that its subject will commit no error.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Gāng róu zhī jì, yì wú jiù yě.

The strong (fourth) line and the weak line here are in correlation: - we judge rightly in saying that ‘its subject will commit no error.’

young yin young yin young yang young yin changing yang young yin
I Ching transform
Thunder
Earth
[16] Inspiration; Delight
Change
: 狐, , . Jiǔ èr: tián huò sān hú, dé huáng shǐ, zhēn jí.

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.

: : 狐, , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ èr: tián huò sān hú, dé huáng shǐ, zhēn jí.

‘The good fortune springing from the firm correctness of the second ‘nine’, (undivided),’ is due to its subject holding the due mean.

young yin young yin young yang changing yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Thunder
Wind/Wood
Héng [32] Perseverance; Endurance
Change
: 负, , 吝. Liù sān: fù qiě chéng, zhì kòu zhì, zhēn lìn.

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.

: 负, , 戎, . Xiàng zhuàn: Fù qiě chéng, yì kě chǒu yě, zì wǒ zhì róng, yòu shéi jiù yě.

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?

young yin young yin changing yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Water
Shī [7] Mass action; Multitude
Change
: 解拇, . Jiǔ sì: jiě ér mǔ, péng zhì sī fú.

(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.'

: 解拇, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiě ér mǔ, wèi dāng wèi yě.

‘Remove your toes:’ - the places (of this line and of the third and first) are all inappropriate to them.

young yin changing yin young yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Lake
Water
Kùn [47] Confinement; Exhaustion
Change
: 解, ; . Liù wǔ: jūn zǐ wéi yǒu jiě, jí; yǒu fú yú xiǎo rén.

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 he good fortune, and confidence in him will be shown even by the small men.

: 解, 退. Xiàng zhuàn: Jūn zǐ yǒu jiě, xiǎo rén tuì yě.

When ‘the superior man executes his function of removing (whatever is injurious to the idea of the hexagram),’ small men will of themselves retire.

changing yin young yin young yang young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Water
Wèi jì [64] Unfinished; Almost complete
Change
: , 获, . Shàng liù: gōng yòng shè sǔn yú gāo yōng zhī shàng, huò zhī, wú bù lì.

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.

: 隼, 解悖. Xiàng zhuàn: Gōng yòng shè sǔn, yǐ jiě bèi yě.

‘A prince with his bow shoots a falcon:’ - thus he removes (the promoters of) rebellion.

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