I Ching Oracle / Hexagrams / 47
The Judgement
Success. Perseverance. The great person brings about good fortune. No blame. When one has something to say, it is not believed.
Confinement and drained resources; words persuade no one — hold your purpose.
The Image
There is no water in the lake; the noble one stakes his life on following his will.
This hexagram on ten matters
- WorkCAREER
- Confinement; your words are not believed. When one has something to say, it is not believed — explaining does not help. Hold your purpose and let it pass.
- LoveRELATIONSHIP
- Exhaustion and depletion. He enters his house and does not see his wife — the place that should support you is empty. The most painful line in this hexagram.
- MoneyFINANCE
- Resources are at the floor. There is no water in the lake: the priority is stopping the loss, not finding opportunity.
- HealthBODY
- The hexagram in this book that most calls for asking for help. Staking one's life on one's will is courage, but confinement this long needs someone to pull you out. If you cannot carry it, please tell someone you trust or seek professional support.
- StudyLEARNING
- Being unable to absorb anything when depleted is normal. Attend to your state rather than forcing yourself.
- An examEXAM
- Exhausted and depleted. Look after body and mind first; aim to secure what you can. If you cannot cope, talk to someone.
- PeopleSOCIAL
- Whatever you say is misread. Say less, and talk when the situation loosens.
- A choiceDECISION
- Do not decide. Decisions made under confinement aim at escape, and are rarely the best available.
- TravelJOURNEY
- Do not travel far. Stay close and hold.
- A lost itemLOST ITEM
- Hard to recover, and it may trouble you for a while. Accept that it cannot be found for now and deal with the replacement first.
The Six Lines
One sits oppressed under a bare tree and strays into a gloomy valley. For three years one sees nothing.
He sits oppressed under a bare tree and strays into a gloomy valley; for three years he sees nothing. The deepest darkness in this hexagram.
One is oppressed while at meat and drink. The man with the scarlet knee bands is just coming. It furthers one to offer sacrifice.
Oppressed while at meat and drink; the man with scarlet knee bands is coming. Even when subsistence is the problem, help is on its way. What to do is keep reverent.
A man permits himself to be oppressed by stone, and leans on thorns and thistles. He enters his house and does not see his wife. Misfortune.
Oppressed by stone, leaning on thorns; he enters his house and does not see his wife. The worst line in the hexagram.
He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage. Humiliation, but the end is reached.
He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage; humiliation, but the end is reached. Slow, and there is an end.
His nose and feet are cut off. Oppression at the hands of the man with the purple knee bands. Joy comes softly.
His nose and feet are cut off; oppression at the hands of the purple knee bands. Joy comes softly. The turn is in the slowness: not rushing the escape is what loosens it.
He is oppressed by creeping vines. He moves uncertainly and says, "Movement brings remorse." If one feels remorse over this and makes a start, good fortune comes.
Oppressed by creeping vines; he says, movement brings remorse. If one feels remorse and makes a start, good fortune. Admitting the error is what gets you out.
The governing line
Nuclear · Opposite · Reverse
The nuclear hexagram shows the middle stretch of the matter; the opposite is the same situation seen from the reverse position; the reverse is the view from the other party's side.