The 64 Hexagrams / 40
Hexagram 40 · ䷧
Deliverance
解 · Xiè
Upper Thunder 震Lower Water 坎
The Judgment · 卦辭
利西南,无所往,其來復吉。有攸往,夙吉。
In (the state indicated by) Kieh 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.
The Image · 大象
雷雨作,解;君子以赦過宥罪。
(The trigram representing) thunder and that for rain, with these phenomena in a state of manifestation, form Kieh. The superior man, in accordance with this, forgives errors, and deals gently with crimes.
Plain-English Meaning
Deliverance. Tension releases; resolve what is left quickly, then let things return to normal.
The Judgment
When obstacles clear, return to calm; if there is still something to do, do it promptly.
The Image
Like thunder and rain clearing the air, forgive mistakes and pardon wrongs.
Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.
The Lines · 爻辭
- 初六 · Line 1无咎。The first SIX, divided, shows that its subject will commit no error.象曰:剛柔之際,義无咎也。
- 九二 · Line 2田獲三狐,得黃矢,貞吉。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.象曰:九二貞吉,得中道也。
- 六三 · Line 3負且乘,致寇至,貞吝。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.象曰:負且乘,亦可丑也,自我致戎,又誰咎也。
- 九四 · Line 4解而拇,朋至斯孚。(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.'象曰:解而拇,未當位也。
- 六五 · Line 5君子惟有解,吉;有孚于小人。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.象曰:君子有解,小人退也。
- 上六 · Line 6公用射隼,于高墉之上,獲之,无不利。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.象曰:公用射隼,以解悖也。
English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.