| Name | 未济 Wèi Jì, “Before Completion” |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☲ 离 Fire: clarity and attachment |
| Lower trigram | ☵ 坎 Water: danger and depth |
The Judgment
亨，小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利。
Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water — nothing benefits.
Almost there. Don't get careless at the finish — that's where most people lose it.
The Image
火在水上，未济；君子以慎辨物居方。
Fire above water — Before Completion. The wise are careful in differentiating things, so that each finds its place.
Sort carefully. Don't let things blur. Right things in the right places — that's how the unfinished becomes whole.
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
濡其尾，吝。
He gets his tail in the water. Shame.
Tripped at the start. Embarrassing — but a useful early lesson. Adjust before continuing.
Line 2 · second · Yang
曳其轮，贞吉。
He brakes his wheels. Stay true — fortune.
Slow down. Hold yourself back from charging forward. The discipline pays off.
Line 3 · third · Yin
未济，征凶。利涉大川。
Before completion, attack — misfortune. Wise to cross the great water.
Don't go on the offensive yet. But: yes to taking the big leap. Move forward, just not aggressively.
Line 4 · fourth · Yang
贞吉，悔亡。震用伐鬼方，三年有赏于大国。
Stay true — fortune. Regret vanishes. Stirring up with thunder to chastise the demon country. For three years there are rewards in the great realm.
A long campaign for what's right. Three years of work, but real recognition follows. Worth it.
Line 5 · fifth · Yin
贞吉，无悔。君子之光。有孚，吉。
Stay true — fortune. No regret. The light of the noble one is true. Fortune.
Your inner light shines clean. Whatever you doubted, release it. The brightness itself is the fortune.
Line 6 · top · Yang
有孚，于饮酒，无咎。濡其首，有孚失是？
There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets one's head — even sincere, one loses it.
Celebrate completion sincerely with your people. But if you get drunk on the win — you lose what you just earned. Joy with edges.
Related hexagrams
- Inverted (turned upside down): Hexagram 63, After Completion
- Complement (every line reversed): Hexagram 63, After Completion