Guai

Judgment

夬 揚于王庭 孚號有厲 告自邑 不利卽戎 利有攸往

The prisoner of war cries out when he returned in triumph to the kingdom. A man who is at risk will come and tell you, if you go to the enemy you will not be beneficial . If there is a place to go, it will be good.

Interpretation

The Kwe (Decisiveness) Hexagram has Tae (Lake) in the upper trigram and Geon (Heaven) in the lower trigram. Tae represents a lake, and Geon represents heaven. The image of the Kwe hexagram is a lake overflowing and rising up to the heavens. It symbolizes a situation where the embankments of the lake break, and the floodwaters rise to fill the sky. Kwe means to collapse or break, as well as to make a decisive move.

In the commentary, Yang means improvement or reform. Bu refers to prisoners or captives. Ho means to wail or cry out. Jeok means to move forward, similar to Chwi, which means to advance. Yung refers to military forces, indicating a military campaign.

This hexagram suggests that after a victory, when the battle is won, captives may cry out in their distress. It implies a time of decisive action, where the situation may be in flux and requires a strong, clear decision. The waters rise, and the actions taken must be resolute in the face of overwhelming forces. It is a time for confronting challenges head-on, advancing with courage, and achieving reform or success after conflict.

初九 壯于前趾,往不勝,爲咎

Initial Nine: Strong at the front of the toes, going forward but unable to succeed, this brings misfortune.

The character "CHAPTER" is borrowed to mean injury, and "Gee" refers to the toe. The toe is located at the front of the foot, hence it is referred to as the "front" in this context. A person who receives this line is in a situation where they are unable to win a battle because of an injury. If one proceeds with inner wounds or significant flaws, they will only suffer more, and failure is inevitable.

九二 惕號,莫夜有戎,勿恤

Nine Two: Wary and alert, a call in the night signals a warrior, no need for concern.

The character "Tap" means fear, and "." refers to wailing. "Membranes" refers to the night becoming dark, and "Carl Jung" means enemy. The situation described involves a person in fear during the night when enemies approach, but it is not serious enough to cause true worry. The individual is simply experiencing anxiety due to unexpected events, though no major harm will come from it.

九三 壯于頄,有凶.君子夬夬獨行,遇雨若濡,有慍,无咎.

Nine Three: Strong at the neck, there is misfortune. A gentleman acts alone, facing rain as if wet, with anger, no fault.

The term "Jang" is borrowed from the character for "wound." "Gyu" refers to the cheekbone. "Kwe" is borrowed from the character for "hurried." "Yak" means to be wet. "On" refers to discomfort. A nobleman was injured by an enemy and hurriedly fled alone, getting wet in the rain. The person asking about the hexagram is in a situation where the nobleman is injured and fleeing, meeting more adversity along the way. They will face a significant setback in a critical part of the task, which will bring difficulties. However, the person will avoid more serious disasters, even though they face hardship.

九四 臀无膚,其行次且,牽羊悔亡,聞言不信。

Nine Four: The rear is without skin, the walk is slow, pulling a sheep, regret is gone, and words are not believed.

The individual hesitates due to fear but finds a resolution. The task will face turmoil yet end without regret.

九五 莧陸夬夬中行,无咎

Nine Five: Cultivated land, acting in the middle path, no fault.

The gentleman hastens to the king to confess guilt, like a swift mountain goat with slender horns, clearing faults. The task at hand will weigh on your heart and slow progress, yet it will ultimately be free of fault.

上六 无號,終有凶

Top Six: No call, but in the end, there is misfortune.

The君子seeking the king’s pardon cries no more, signaling an end, yet it’s ominous. The task at hand concludes silently, as heaven and earth remain mute, foreboding misfortune.