Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 63 — Water over Fire (水火既濟) - After Completion
既濟
Lower Canon 下經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
既濟：亨小，利貞，初吉終亂。
After Completion. Success in small matters. Perseverance furthers. At the beginning good fortune, at the end disorder.
Image
象傳
象曰：水在火上，既濟；君子以思患而豫防之。
Water over fire: the image of the condition After Completion. Thus the superior man takes thought of misfortune and arms himself against it in advance.
Interpretation
詮釋
既濟卦象徵事已完成。水在火上，相濟得所。但盛極必衰，應思患預防，居安思危。
After completion. Water above fire, mutually balanced. But extreme prosperity leads to decline, should anticipate problems and prevent, remain vigilant in peace.
Six Lines
爻辭
Nine at the beginning
初九
曳其輪，濡其尾，無咎。
He brakes his wheels. He gets his tail in the water. No blame.
拖住車輪，尾巴沾濕，無咎。初濟即知謹慎，不急於前進，無過失。
Braking wheels, tail getting wet, no blame. Just completed already knowing caution, not rushing forward, no fault.
Six in the second place
六二
婦喪其茀，勿逐，七日得。
The woman loses the curtain of her carriage. Do not run after it; on the seventh day you will get it.
婦人丟失車簾，勿追尋，七日後得回。失物勿急，時候到自會復得。
Woman loses carriage curtain, don't chase, recover after seven days. Lost items don't rush, in time will naturally return.
Nine in the third place
九三
高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用。
The Illustrious Ancestor disciplines the Devil's Country. After three years he conquers it. Inferior people must not be employed.
高宗征伐鬼方，三年才克服，小人不可用。大事艱難，需時日，且不可任用小人。
Emperor conquers barbarians, three years to overcome, petty people must not be used. Great matters difficult, needs time, and must not employ petty people.
Six in the fourth place
六四
繻有衣袽，終日戒。
The finest clothes turn to rags. Be careful all day long.
華服有破綻，終日警戒。盛時要防微杜漸，整日保持警惕。
Fine clothes have flaws, vigilant all day. At peak must prevent problems early, maintain alertness throughout.
Nine in the fifth place
九五
東鄰殺牛，不如西鄰之禴祭，實受其福。
The neighbor in the east who slaughters an ox does not attain as much real happiness as the neighbor in the west with his small offering.
東鄰殺牛祭祀，不如西鄰薄禮祭祀，實際受到福佑。居尊位誠敬為本，不在奢華。
Eastern neighbor killing ox for sacrifice, not as good as western neighbor's simple offering, actually receives blessing. In high position sincerity fundamental, not in luxury.
Six at the top
上六
濡其首，厲。
He gets his head in the water. Danger.
頭部沾濕，危險。既濟之極，過猶不及，全身浸水必危。
Head getting wet, danger. Extreme of completion, excess is as bad as insufficiency, whole body in water certainly dangerous.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 63