Hexagram 40

解 Xiè

Deliverance

☳ Thunder above ☵ Water

Judgment 卦辭

利西南。无所往。其來復吉。有攸往。夙吉。

解jiěrelease, relieve, discharge, resolve, liberate

利lìworthwhile, rewarding, productive

西xīwest

南nánsouth

無wúwithout; (with, having) no; lacking; no-

所suǒa place, cause, reason, purpose; -where

往wǎngto go, move towards; in going; ahead

其qíone's (own); the, this

來lái(up)coming, approaching, arriving, next

復fù(in) return, renewal, recovery, revision

吉jípromising, fortunate, opportune, timely

有yǒu(in, if) having; (if) there is, one has

攸yōusomewhere; (a) place, direction, purpose

往wǎngto go, move towards; in going; ahead

夙sùto be early, prompt; dispatch; soon

吉jípromising, fortunate, opportune, timely

Commentary

The southwest furthers. If there's nowhere left you have to go, return brings good fortune. If something remains to be done, hasten brings good fortune. Tensions ease. Return to ordinary conditions as soon as possible. Don't overdo the triumph—don't push further than necessary. Handle residual matters quickly for a clean sweep. Like rain relieving atmospheric tension, deliverance has a liberating effect. But it's just beginning.

Classical Text

解坎下震上解，利西南。无所往，其來復吉。有攸往，夙吉。

Xie (Release): Kan below, Zhen above. Release. Benefit in the southwest. If there is nowhere to go, returning brings good fortune. If there is somewhere to go, acting swiftly brings good fortune.

Image 象

雷雨作，解。君子以赦過宥罪。

Thunder and rain set in, clearing the air. Pardon mistakes, forgive misdeeds. Pass over unintentional transgressions like thunder dying away. Wash clean intentional wrongs like rain washing everything pure. Clarity brings deliverance; don't dwell on failings.

Lines 爻辭

無咎

無wúno; nothing; no harm done

咎jiùblame; (is) wrong; making v mistakes

Without blame. Hindrance past, deliverance come. Recuperate in peace and keep still. Few words needed. This is the right thing when difficulties have been overcome.

Classical commentary

初六，无咎。

Initial Six: No blame.

田獲三狐得黃矢貞吉

田tián(in) (a, the) field; (on) (a, the) hunt

獲huò(and) take, trap, capture, catch (s, ing)

三sānthree; a third

狐húfoxes; fox

得déearn, accept, receive, win, get, claim (ing)

黃huánga, the golden, yellow

矢shǐarrow(s)

貞zhēnpersistence, determination, resolve, focus

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Three foxes killed in the field, yellow arrow received. Persistence brings good fortune. Designing flatterers must be removed before deliverance is complete. But use the right weapons—measure and directness. Wholeheartedness develops inner strength that acts against what is false.

Classical commentary

九二，田獲三狐，得黃矢，貞吉。

Nine in the Second: In the hunt, three foxes are caught; a yellow arrow is obtained. Correctness brings good fortune.

負且乘致寇至吝

負fùshouldering, carrying baggage, (a) burden

且qiěwhile, and yet, but (also, now), in addition to

乘chéngmounted; riding (a horse, mount, carriage)

致zhìinviting, encouraging, permitting

寇kòuthieves, robbers, plunderers, predators

至zhìto approach, arrive, come (up)

貞zhēnpersistence; to persist, keep going

吝lìn(is) embarrassing, humiliating, shameful

Carrying a burden on your back while riding in a carriage—you encourage robbers. Persistence leads to humiliation. Coming from need into comfort, you affect ease that doesn't suit your nature. Carelessness invites theft. Insolence toward superiors and hardness toward inferiors attract attack.

Classical commentary

六三，負且乘，致寇至，貞吝。

Six in the Third: Carrying a burden while riding in a carriage, one invites bandits to come. Correctness brings regret.

解而拇朋至斯孚

解jiěrelease, relax, let go, untangle, loosen

而éryour

拇mǔbig toe

朋péng(when) companion, ally, friend, associate (s)

至zhìapproach, arrive, come (up)

斯sī(in, on) them, this

孚fútrust, believe, rely; have faith, confidence v

Deliver yourself from your great toe. Then the companion comes whom you can trust. Those who attached through habit must be freed when deliverance calls for deeds. Otherwise, those who share your views mistrust you and stay away.

Classical commentary

九四，解而拇，朋至斯孚。

Nine in the Fourth: Release your big toe; then allies will come with trust.

君子維有解吉有孚于小人

君jūnnoble, worthy, honored

子zǐyoung one, heir, disciple (even)

維wéiin bondage; restrained, confined, tied up

有yǒu(still, yet) has, holds, possesses, owns, retains

解jiěfreedom(s), liberty(ies), relief, solutions

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, hopeful

有yǒubeing, hold(s, ing), staying; having, finding

孚fútrue, sincere, confident, assured; truth, etc.

于yúfor; in, with, amidst, among, above

小xiǎo(the) small, ordinary, lesser, common

人rénones, people, individuals, folk

If only the superior person can deliver himself, good fortune. Prove to inferior people that you are in earnest. They cannot be driven off by external means. Break completely with them in your own mind first. They will see your seriousness and withdraw.

Classical commentary

六五，君子維有解，吉。有孚于小人。

Six in the Fifth: The noble person herein achieves release—good fortune. There is trust shown toward the petty person.

公用射隼于高墉之上獲之無不利

公gōng(the) duke, prince, lord, patriarch, high noble

用yòngtakes, makes, tries

射shè(his) aim at, (a) shot at

隼sǔn(a, the) bird of prey, raptor, hawk, falcon

于yúup on, upon, on, atop

高gāo(a, the) high, tall, lofty

墉yōngbattlement, rampart, (fortified) wall

之zhī...'s

上shàngpeak, top, summit, height, apex, pinnacle

獲huò(to) succeed(ing); (a) success, capture, catch

之zhī(is) here; (at, in, with) this (is, means)

無wúwithout; (there is) nothing

不bùdoubt; (that) (is) not; (which) cannot be

利lìworthwhile, (turned to) advantage(ous)

The prince shoots a hawk on a high wall. He kills it. Everything furthers. A powerful inferior in a high position hinders deliverance, hardened in wickedness. Forcible removal is required. Prepare the means within yourself. Bide your time, then act. Everything goes well.

Classical commentary

上六，公用射隼于高墉之上，獲之，无不利。

Top Six: The duke shoots a hawk upon the high wall. He catches it. Nothing is unfavorable.