Hexagram 38: Kui

Judgment

小事吉。

Khwei indicates that, (notwithstanding the condition of things which it denotes), in small matters there will (still) be good success.

Small matters can still go well. Big joint projects are hard while people pull in different directions, but modest, practical cooperation stays open.

Image

上火下澤，睽；君子以同而異。

(The trigram representing) fire above, and that for (the waters of) a marsh below, form Khwei. The superior man, in accordance with this, where there is a general agreement, yet admits diversity.

Line 1 · 初九

悔亡，喪馬勿逐，自復；見惡人无咎。

The first line, undivided, shows that (to its subject) occasion for repentance will disappear. He has lost his horses, but let him not seek for them;--they will return of themselves. Should he meet with bad men, he will not err (in communicating with them).

Regret fades. Do not chase a lost horse, since it comes back on its own, and meeting an unpleasant person does no harm.

Line 2 · 九二

遇主于巷，无咎。

The second line, undivided, shows its subject happening to meet with his lord in a bye-passage. There will be no error.

You meet the person you answer to in a side lane, away from formal channels. The usual routes are closed, so this informal meeting is no mistake.

Line 3 · 六三

見輿曳，其牛掣，其人天且劓，无初有終。

In the third line, divided, we see one whose carriage is dragged back, while the oxen in it are pushed back, and he is himself subjected to the shaving of his head and the cutting off of his nose. There is no good beginning, but there will be a good end.

The cart is dragged back and the ox is pulled up short, while the rider suffers a harsh punishment. It starts badly, and the text says it ends well.

Line 4 · 九四

睽孤，遇元夫，交孚，厲无咎。

The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the (prevailing) disunion. (But) he meets with the good man (represented by the first line), and they blend their sincere desires together. The position is one of peril, but there will be no mistake.

You stand alone in the middle of the split, then meet a good person like yourself. You trust each other, and though the position is risky, nothing about it is wrong.

Line 5 · 六五

悔亡，厥宗噬膚，往何咎。

The fifth line, divided, shows that (to its subject) occasion for repentance will disappear. With his relative (and minister he unites closely and readily) as if he were biting through a piece of skin. When he goes forward (with this help), what error can there be?

Nothing is left to regret. A close ally meets you as easily as teeth go through soft skin, and there is nothing to criticize in moving ahead together.

Line 6 · 上九

睽孤，見豕負涂，載鬼一車，先張之弧，後說之弧，匪寇婚媾，往遇雨則吉。

The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the (prevailing) disunion. (In the subject of the third line, he seems to) see a pig bearing on its back a load of mud, (or fancies) there is a carriage full of ghosts. He first bends his bow against him, and afterwards unbends it, (for he discovers) that he is not an assailant to injure, but a near relative. Going forward, he shall meet with (genial) rain, and there will be good fortune.

Alone and suspicious, you see a muddy pig and a cartload of ghosts, and draw your bow. Then you lower it, seeing the visitor is kin by marriage, and meeting rain is a good sign.