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I Ching hexagram 40, Xie
Hexagram 40

Xie

Release and Relief

Classical name: Kieh

When you receive Hexagram 40, Xie, the I Ching turns your attention to release and relief. Deliverance. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.

The Judgment

Deliverance. Advantage will be found in the southwest. If no further action is needed, good fortune in returning to the old way. If action is needed, good fortune in moving early.

Classical (Legge)In (the state indicated by) Kieh advantage will be found in the south-west. If no (further) operations be called for, there will be good fortune in coming back (to the old conditions). If some operations be called for, there will be good fortune in the early conducting of them.

The Image

Thunder and rain arise together. The centered one forgives errors and deals gently with transgressions.

Classical (Legge)(The trigram representing) thunder and that for rain, with these phenomena in a state of manifestation, form Kieh. The superior man, in accordance with this, forgives errors, and deals gently with crimes.

The Changing Lines

Six at the beginning

No error.

Classical (Legge)There will be no error.

Nine in the second place

He catches three foxes in the hunt, and obtains the golden arrows. With firm and correct, good fortune.

Classical (Legge)He catches in hunting three foxes, and obtains the yellow (golden) arrows. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.

Six in the third place

A porter who rides in a carriage will only tempt robbers to attack him. However firm and correct he tries to be, there will be cause for regret.

Classical (Legge)A porter, who yet rides in a carriage, will (only) tempt robbers to attack him. However firm and correct he may (try to) be, there will be cause for regret.

Nine in the fourth place

Remove your toes from entanglement. Then friends will come, and there will be mutual trust.

Classical (Legge)(The subject of this line) is told to remove his toes. Friends will (then) come, between him and whom there will be mutual confidence.

Six in the fifth place

The centered one frees himself from what binds him. Good fortune. Even the petty will place their confidence in him.

Classical (Legge)The superior man executes his function of removing (whatever is injurious to the idea of the hexagram), in which case there will be good fortune, and confidence in him will be shown even by the small men.

Six at the top

A prince shoots at a hawk on the top of a high wall, and hits it. Advantageous in every way.

Classical (Legge)A prince (with his bow) shoots at a hawk on the top of a high wall, and hits it. (The effect of his action) will be in every way advantageous.

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