Guai
Decisive Breakthrough
When you receive Hexagram 43, Guai, the I Ching turns your attention to decisive breakthrough. Breakthrough. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.
The Judgment
Breakthrough. The culprit's guilt must be declared in the royal court. A sincere and earnest appeal, with awareness of the danger. He must make announcement in his own city, and show that arms alone will not serve. Advantage in whatever direction he goes.
Classical (Legge)Kwai requires (in him who would fulfil its meaning) a display (of the culprit's guilt) in the royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal (for sympathy and support), with a consciousness of the peril (involved in the undertaking). He must make announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms. (In this way) there will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to.
The Image
Marsh risen to heaven. Guai. One who is centered bestows generously on those below and lets nothing accumulate undispensed.
Classical (Legge)(The trigram representing) the waters of a marsh and that for heaven above it form Kwai. The superior man, in accordance with this, bestows emolument on those below him, and dislikes allowing his gifts to accumulate (undispensed).
The Changing Lines
Strength in the toes of his advance. Going forward without being equal to the task, he will err.
Classical (Legge)(The subject of this line) shows his strength in the toes of his advance. When he goes forward, without being equal to the occasion, he will commit an error.
He cries out in alarm. Late at night, hostile measures may be taken, but he need not be anxious.
Classical (Legge)He cries out apprehensively. Late at night hostile measures may be taken against him, but he need not be anxious about them.
Resolution in his face, like a strong man. There will be misfortune. The centered one walks firmly in his resolve, and though he meets the storm-rain, he is not stained by it. No error, though there be ground for blame.
Classical (Legge)He shows (resolution in his aspect) like a strong man. There will be evil. The superior man walks firmly (in his determination to cut off the criminal), and though he meets with the storm-rain, he is not stained by it. There will be no error, though there be ground for blame.
The skin of his buttocks is torn. He walks slowly and with difficulty. If he could follow like a sheep led by its companions, occasion for regret would disappear. He hears these words but does not believe them.
Classical (Legge)The skin of his buttocks is torn, and he walks slowly and with difficulty. If (he could act) like a sheep led (after its companions), occasion for repentance would disappear. But though he hear these words, he will not believe them.
He deals resolutely with the weed that must be uprooted, acting from the center. No error.
Classical (Legge)(The subject of this line) deals resolutely with the marrow weed, carrying on his action from the middle place. There will be no error.
No cry of warning. The end will be misfortune.
Classical (Legge)There is no cry (of warning). The end will be evil.
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