| Name | 井 Jǐng, “The Well” |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☵ 坎 Water: danger and depth |
| Lower trigram | ☴ 巽 Wind: gentle, persistent influence |
The Judgment
改邑不改井，无丧无得，往来井井。汔至，亦未繘井，羸其瓶，凶。
The town may change, but the well does not. It neither decreases nor increases. They come and go to draw from it. If one nearly draws up the water and the rope does not reach, or the jug breaks — misfortune.
Some things — your inner source — never change, even when everything around you does. Just don't quit right before reaching the water.
The Image
木上有水，井；君子以劳民劝相。
Water above wood — The Well. The wise encourage the people at their work and exhort them to help one another.
Be the source others come to draw from. Show up consistently — that's how communities thrive.
The six lines
If a line changes in your cast, read its text below. Lines are numbered from the bottom.
Line 1 · first (bottom) · Yin
井泥不食，旧井无禽。
The well is muddy — no one drinks. An old well — no creatures come.
Neglected too long. Even what was once useful loses everyone. Maintenance matters.
Line 2 · second · Yang
井谷射鲋，瓮敝漏。
The well-hole — shooting fish. The jug is cracked and leaks.
Aiming low, missing the real purpose. The vessel itself is broken. Fix the tool, not the target.
Line 3 · third · Yang
井渫不食，为我心恻。可用汲，王明，并受其福。
The well is cleansed, but no one drinks from it. This is my heart's sorrow. One can draw from it. If the king were clear-minded — all could share the blessing.
You did the work, you're ready to give — but no one's drinking. Painful waiting. The right people will find it eventually.
Line 4 · fourth · Yin
井甃，无咎。
The well is being lined. No blame.
Repair time. No active output right now — just rebuilding the foundation. Necessary.
Line 5 · fifth · Yang
井冽，寒泉食。
In the well, there is a clear, cold spring from which one can drink.
Source flowing clear and clean. Whatever you offer now is pure. Lean in.
Line 6 · top · Yin
井收勿幕，有孚元吉。
One draws from the well without hindrance. There is sincerity. Supreme fortune.
Open well, freely accessible. You're giving from a deep, real place. Highest fortune.
Related hexagrams
- Inverted (turned upside down): Hexagram 47, Oppression
- Complement (every line reversed): Hexagram 21, Biting Through