Hexagram 48 of 64

The Well井

Water above wood. The noble person encourages people at their work and urges them to help one another.

Upper
Water
Lower
Wind
Order
48 / 64
Pick a line to read it

改邑不改井，无喪无得，往來井井。汔至亦未繘井。羸其瓶，凶。

Judgment: The town may change, the well does not. It neither loses nor gains. People come and go and draw from it. If the rope nearly reaches the water and the jar breaks, misfortune.

木上有水，井；君子以勞民勸相。

Image: Water above wood. The noble person encourages people at their work and urges them to help one another.

In plain words

The situation: The well is there. It must be kept up and used.

What you can do: Repair the basics and put resources to real use.

For culture and reflection only. Our own plain summary, not a translation.

The six lines

  1. 上六井收勿幕，有孚元吉。The well is open, do not cover it. There is trust. Great good fortune.In shortKeep the resource open to everyone; do not hide it, and sincerity brings great benefit.
  2. 九五井洌，寒泉食。The well is clear, and its cold spring is drunk.In shortThe supply is clear and good; now is the time to draw on it.
  3. 六四井甃，无咎。The well is being lined. No fault.In shortRepair the foundations; even if nothing comes out yet, there is no problem.
  4. 九三井渫不食，為我心惻，可用汲，王明，並受其福。The well is cleared, but no one drinks, and my heart aches. It could be drawn from. If the king is wise, all share the blessing.In shortIt is ready but no one uses it, which is a shame; with a wise leader, all benefit.
  5. 九二井谷射鮒，瓮敝漏。The well shoots water at small fish. The jar is cracked and leaks.In shortThere is something to draw on but it is misused and leaking; repair it first.
  6. 初六井泥不食，舊井无禽。The well is muddy and no one drinks. No birds come to an old well.In shortResources are neglected and unused; the old supply cannot be relied on.

Sources Zhou Yi. English by TaoDial.