Hexagram 63
既濟 Jì Jì
After Completion
☵ Water above ☲ Fire
Judgment 卦辭
亨小。利貞。初吉。終亂。
Commentary
Success in small matters. Persistence furthers. At the beginning good fortune, at the end disorder. The transition from the old to the new time is already accomplished. In principle, everything stands systematized, and it is only in regard to details that success is still to be achieved. We must be careful to maintain the right attitude. Everything proceeds as if of its own accord, and this can all too easily tempt us to relax and let things take their course without troubling over details. Such indifference is the root of all evil. Symptoms of decay are bound to be the result. This is the rule indicating the usual course of history. But this rule is not an inescapable law. He who understands it can avoid its effects through unremitting perseverance and caution.
Classical Text
既濟離下坎上 既濟，亨小，利貞，初吉終亂。
Already Fulfilled, Li below Kan above. Already Fulfilled: Success in small things. Benefit in Correctness. Good fortune at the beginning, disorder at the end.
Image 象
水在火上，既濟。君子以思患而豫防之。
Water over fire. Take thought of misfortune and arm yourself against it in advance. When water in a kettle hangs over fire, the two elements stand in relation and generate energy. But the resulting tension demands caution. If the water boils over, the fire is extinguished and its energy lost. If the heat is too great, the water evaporates. These elements brought into relation are by nature hostile to each other. Only the most extreme caution can prevent damage. In life too there are junctures when all forces are in balance and everything seems in the best of order. In such times only the sage recognizes the moments that bode danger and knows how to banish it by means of timely precautions.
Lines 爻辭
曳其輪濡其尾無咎
He brakes his wheels. He gets his tail in the water. No blame. In times following a great transition, everything is pressing forward in the direction of development and progress. But this pressing forward at the beginning is not good; it overshoots the mark and leads with certainty to loss and collapse. Therefore a person of strong character does not allow themselves to be infected by the general intoxication but checks their course in time. He may not remain altogether untouched by disastrous consequences, like a fox that at the last minute gets its tail wet, but will not suffer any real harm because behavior has been correct.
Classical commentary
初九，曳其輪，濡其尾，无咎。
Initial Nine: He drags his wheels back; he wets his tail. No blame.
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. Especially in times 'after completion,' those who have come to power grow arrogant and conceited and no longer trouble themselves about fostering new talent. We are warned: do not seek it. Do not throw yourself away on the world, but wait tranquilly and develop your personal worth by your own efforts. Times change. That which is your own cannot be permanently lost. It comes to you of its own accord. You need only be able to wait.
Classical commentary
六二，婦喪其茀，勿逐，七日得。
Six in the Second: The woman loses her carriage screen. Do not pursue it; in seven days she will recover it.
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. After times of completion, when a new power has arisen and everything within the country has been set in order, a period of colonial expansion almost inevitably follows. Long-drawn-out struggles must be reckoned with. A correct colonial policy is especially important. The territory won at such bitter cost must not be regarded as an almshouse for people who have made themselves impossible at home.
Classical commentary
九三，高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用。
Nine in the Third: The High Ancestor attacked the Guifang; in three years he conquered them. Petty persons should not be employed.
繻有衣袽終日戒
The finest clothes turn to rags. Be careful all day long. In a time of flowering culture, an occasional convulsion is bound to occur, uncovering hidden evil within society. Since the situation is favorable on the whole, such evils can easily be glossed over and concealed from the public. Then everything is forgotten and peace apparently reigns complacently. However, to the thoughtful person, such occurrences are grave omens that should not be neglected. This is the only way of averting evil consequences.
Classical commentary
六四，繻有衣袽，終日戒。
Six in the Fourth: Fine silk turns to rags for patching. Be on guard the whole day.
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. In divine worship, the simple old forms are replaced by ever more elaborate ritual and ever greater outward display. But inner seriousness is lacking in this show of magnificence; human caprice takes the place of conscientious obedience to the divine will. Man sees what is before his eyes; God looks into the heart. Therefore a simple sacrifice offered with real piety holds a greater blessing than an impressive service without warmth.
Classical commentary
九五，東鄰殺牛，不如西鄰之禴祭，實受其福。
Nine in the Fifth: The eastern neighbor slaughters an ox, but this is not as good as the western neighbor's yue sacrifice, which truly receives its blessing.
濡其首厲
He gets his head in the water. Danger. After crossing a stream, your head can get into the water only if you are so imprudent as to turn back. As long as you go forward and do not look back, you escape this danger. But there is a fascination in standing still and looking back on a peril overcome. Such vain self-admiration brings misfortune. It leads only to danger, and unless you finally resolve to go forward without pausing, you fall victim to this danger.
Classical commentary
上六，濡其首，厲。
Top Six: He wets his head. Danger.