Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 64 — Fire over Water (火水未濟) - Before Completion
未濟
Lower Canon 下經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
未濟：亨，小狐汔濟，濡其尾，無攸利。
Before Completion. Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further.
Image
象傳
象曰：火在水上，未濟；君子以慎辨物居方。
Fire over water: the image of the condition Before Completion. Thus the superior man is careful in the differentiation of things, so that each finds its place.
Interpretation
詮釋
未濟卦象徵事未完成。火在水上，不相濟。雖未成但有希望，應謹慎行事，明辨事物，各安其位。
Before completion. Fire above water, not yet balanced. Though incomplete but hopeful, should act cautiously, clearly distinguish things, each in its place.
Six Lines
爻辭
Six at the beginning
初六
濡其尾，吝。
He gets his tail in the water. Humiliating.
尾巴沾濕，羞辱。未濟之初即犯錯，輕率行動招羞辱。
Tail getting wet, humiliation. At beginning of incompletion already making mistakes, rash action brings shame.
Nine in the second place
九二
曳其輪，貞吉。
He brakes his wheels. Perseverance brings good fortune.
拖住車輪，守正吉。得中正之位，謹慎前進則吉。
Braking wheels, correctness brings fortune. Attaining balanced position, cautious advance brings fortune.
Six in the third place
六三
未濟，征凶，利涉大川。
Before completion, attack brings misfortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.
未完成時，前進則凶，利於涉越大川。時機未到不可妄動，但可做準備。
Before completion, advancing brings misfortune, benefits crossing great water. Time not yet come cannot act rashly, but can make preparations.
Nine in the fourth place
九四
貞吉，悔亡，震用伐鬼方，三年有賞於大國。
Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's Country. For three years, great realms are awarded.
守正吉，悔恨消失，奮起征伐鬼方，三年後得大國賞賜。堅持努力，終獲成功。
Correctness brings fortune, regret vanishes, rising to conquer barbarians, after three years receives great kingdom's reward. Persisting with effort, finally succeeds.
Six in the fifth place
六五
貞吉，無悔，君子之光，有孚，吉。
Perseverance brings good fortune. No remorse. The light of the superior man is true. Good fortune.
守正吉，無悔，君子的光輝，有誠信，吉。居尊位有德，光明磊落終成大業。
Correctness brings fortune, no regret, noble person's brilliance, with sincerity, fortune. In high position with virtue, upright and open finally achieves great enterprise.
Nine at the top
上九
有孚於飲酒，無咎。濡其首，有孚失是。
There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets his head, he loses it, in truth.
有誠信於飲酒，無咎。頭部沾濕，雖有誠信也失其正。未濟將終，慶賀可以，但不可過度。
Sincere confidence in drinking wine, no blame. Head getting wet, though having sincerity loses correctness. Before completion ending, celebrating acceptable, but not excessive.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 64