48
井
Jǐng

Hexagram 48: The Well

彖 · Tuan

Judgment

The town may be changed, but the well is not changed. It neither loses nor gains. People come and go, and the well remains the well. If one nearly reaches the water yet still does not draw from the well, or breaks the jug, there is Misfortune.
Judgment Commentary · 彖傳
Wood enters the water and draws the water upward: this is The Well. The well nourishes without running dry. The town may change, but not the well, because of the firm center. People come and go at the well. If one nearly reaches it yet still does not draw from the well, there is no achievement. If the jug is broken, therefore there is Misfortune.
象 · Xiang

Image

Wood above water: The Well. The Noble One encourages the people in their work and mutual support.
六爻 · Six Lines

Lines

Line 06

Top Six
The well is being drawn from. Do not cover it. There is trust. Prime Good fortune.
Corresponds to line 3
Commentary
Prime Good fortune at the top means great completion.

Line 05

Nine in the Fifth
The well is clear. Its cold spring water may be drunk.
Central Corresponds to line 2
Commentary
The drinking of cold spring-water comes through centered correctness.

Line 04

Six in the Fourth
The well is lined. No blame.
Corresponds to line 1
Commentary
A lined well with No blame means the well is being repaired.

Line 03

Nine in the Third
The well has been cleaned, but no one drinks from it. This makes my heart ache. It can be drawn from. If the king is clear-sighted, all receive its blessing together.
Corresponds to line 6
Commentary
A cleaned well left unused causes sorrow in action. Seeking the king's clarity brings blessing.

Line 02

Nine in the Second
At the well-hole one shoots at small fish. The jar is worn out and leaking.
Central Corresponds to line 5
Commentary
Shooting at small fish in the well-hole means there is no association.

Line 01

Initial Six
The mud of the well is not fit to drink. At the old well, no birds come.
Corresponds to line 4
Commentary
The muddy well is not used because it lies low. The old well has no birds because it has been left aside by the times.
卦象 · Guà Xiàng

Trigrams

Upper Trigram

K'an

Dangerous

Element
Water
Direction
North
Season
Winter
Lower Trigram

Sun

Penetrating

Palace
Zhen Palace
Role: Fifth Generation
Shi line 5 · Ying line 2