Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 54 — Thunder over Lake (雷澤歸妹) - The Marrying Maiden
歸妹
Lower Canon 下經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
歸妹：征凶，無攸利。
The Marrying Maiden. Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.
Image
象傳
象曰：澤上有雷，歸妹；君子以永終知敝。
Thunder over the lake: the image of the Marrying Maiden. Thus the superior man understands the transitory in the light of the eternity of the end.
Interpretation
詮釋
歸妹卦象徵少女出嫁。雷動澤上，感情衝動。婚姻不當，倉促行事必有凶險。
The marrying maiden. Thunder above lake, emotional impulse. Inappropriate marriage, hasty action brings misfortune.
Six Lines
爻辭
Nine at the beginning
初九
歸妹以娣，跛能履，征吉。
The marrying maiden as a concubine. A lame man who is able to tread. Undertakings bring good fortune.
少女作為妾嫁人，瘸子能行走，前進吉。以卑位自居，反而得吉。
Maiden marrying as concubine, lame person can walk, advancing brings fortune. Taking humble position, instead brings fortune.
Nine in the second place
九二
眇能視，利幽人之貞。
A one-eyed man who is able to see. The perseverance of a solitary man furthers.
獨眼能看，利於隱居者守正。雖有不足但守正則利。
One-eyed can see, benefits recluse's correctness. Though inadequate but maintaining correctness brings benefit.
Six in the third place
六三
歸妹以須，反歸以娣。
The marrying maiden as a slave. She marries as a concubine.
少女本想為正妻，反而降為妾。期望過高，反遭挫折。
Maiden wishing to be principal wife, instead becomes concubine. Expectations too high, instead meets setback.
Nine in the fourth place
九四
歸妹愆期，遲歸有時。
The marrying maiden draws out the allotted time. A late marriage comes in due course.
少女過期未嫁，遲歸自有其時。等待時機，不急不躁。
Maiden past marriage age, late marriage has its time. Waiting for opportunity, not hasty nor anxious.
Six in the fifth place
六五
帝乙歸妹，其君之袂，不如其娣之袂良，月幾望，吉。
The sovereign I gives his daughter in marriage. The embroidered garments of the princess are not as gorgeous as those of the serving maid. The moon that is nearly full brings good fortune.
帝乙嫁女兒，公主的衣袖不如妾的華美，月將滿，吉。貴而不驕，謙遜得福。
Emperor Yi marrying daughter, princess's sleeves less gorgeous than concubine's, moon nearly full, fortune. Noble but not arrogant, humility brings blessing.
Six at the top
上六
女承筐無實，士刲羊無血，無攸利。
The woman holds the basket, but there are no fruits in it. The man stabs the sheep, but no blood flows. Nothing that acts to further.
女子捧筐無物，男子殺羊無血，無所利。婚姻徒有虛名，無實際內容。
Woman holding basket empty, man killing sheep no blood, nothing benefits. Marriage has empty name, no actual substance.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 54