Hexagram #48
The Well
水風井
The well that nourishes all. Society changes; the well remains unchanged.
The Well (水風井, Hexagram 48) is the 48th of the 64 hexagrams in the I-Ching. It consists of the upper trigram Kǎn (Water) (坎, Thủy) over the lower trigram Xùn (Wind) (巽, Mộc). The well that nourishes all. Society changes; the well remains unchanged.
Judgment (Thoán từ)
The Well. The town may be changed, but the well cannot be changed. It neither decreases nor increases. They come and go and draw from the well. If one gets down almost to the water and the rope does not go all the way, or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune.
Image (Tượng từ)
Water over wood: the image of the Well. Thus the superior man encourages the people at their work, and exhorts them to help one another.
The Six Lines
- 1
Line 1 yin: One does not drink the mud of the well. No animals come to an old well.
- 2
Line 2 yang: At the well-hole one shoots fish. The jug is broken and leaks.
- 3
Line 3 yang: The well is cleaned, but no one drinks from it. This is my heart’s sorrow, for one might draw from it. If the king were clear-minded, good fortune might be enjoyed in common.
- 4
Line 4 yin: The well is being lined. No blame.
- 5
Line 5 yang: In the well there is a clear, cold spring from which one can drink.
- 6
Line 6 yin: One draws from the well without hindrance. It is dependable. Supreme good fortune.
Nuclear Hexagram (互卦)
䷥Frequently asked questions
- What does the The Well hexagram (水風井) mean?
- The Well is hexagram #48 of the 64 I-Ching hexagrams. The well that nourishes all. Society changes; the well remains unchanged.
- What is the judgment text of The Well?
- The Well. The town may be changed, but the well cannot be changed. It neither decreases nor increases. They come and go and draw from the well. If one gets down almost to the water and the rope does not go all the way, or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune.
- What is the image text of The Well?
- Water over wood: the image of the Well. Thus the superior man encourages the people at their work, and exhorts them to help one another.
- What are the upper and lower trigrams of The Well?
- The upper trigram of The Well is Kǎn (Water) (坎) — representing Water / The Abysmal, element Thủy. The lower trigram is Xùn (Wind) (巽) — representing Wind / The Gentle, element Mộc.
- What is the mutual hexagram (互卦) of The Well?
- The mutual hexagram of The Well is Opposition (火澤睽). The mutual hexagram reveals the hidden inner dynamic and intermediate development of the situation.
- What are the six line texts of The Well?
- Line 1: Line 1 yin: One does not drink the mud of the well. No animals come to an old well. | Line 2: Line 2 yang: At the well-hole one shoots fish. The jug is broken and leaks. | Line 3: Line 3 yang: The well is cleaned, but no one drinks from it. This is my heart’s sorrow, for one might draw from it. If the king were clear-minded, good fortune might be enjoyed in common. | Line 4: Line 4 yin: The well is being lined. No blame. | Line 5: Line 5 yang: In the well there is a clear, cold spring from which one can drink. | Line 6: Line 6 yin: One draws from the well without hindrance. It is dependable. Supreme good fortune.
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