Hexagram 38: Kuí (Opposition)
火泽睽 · 第 38 卦 · Fire over Lake · 中文版
The Judgment
Kui indicates that, (notwithstanding the condition of things which it denotes), in small matters there will (still) be good success.
睽：小事吉。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
In Kui we have (the symbol of) Fire, which, when moved, tends upwards, and that of a Marsh, whose waters, when moved, tend downwards. We have (also the symbols of) two sisters living together, but whose wills do not move in the same direction. (We see how the inner trigram expressive of) harmonious satisfaction is attached to (the outer expressive of) bright intelligence; (we see) the weak line advanced and acting above, and how it occupies the central place, and is responded to by the strong (line below). These indications show that 'in small matters there will (still) be good fortune.' Heaven and earth are separate and apart, but the work which they do is the same. Male and female are separate and apart, but with a common will they seek the same object. There is diversity between the myriad classes of beings, but there is an analogy between their several operations. Great indeed are the phenomena and the results of this condition of disunion and separation.
彖曰：睽，火动而上，泽动而下；二女同居，其志不同行。说而丽乎明，柔进而上行，得中而应乎刚，是以小事吉。天地睽，而其事同也；男女睽，而其志通也；万物睽，而其事类也；睽之时用大矣哉！
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) fire above, and that for (the waters of) a marsh below, form Kui. The superior man, in accordance with this, where there is a general agreement, yet admits diversity.
象曰：上火下泽，睽；君子以同而异。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first NINE, undivided, shows that (to its subject) occasion for repentance will disappear. He has lost his horses, but let him not seek for them - they will return of themselves. Should he meet with bad men, he will not err (in communicating with them).
'He meets with bad men (and communicates with them):' - (he does so), to avoid the evil of their condemnation.
初九：悔亡，丧马勿逐，自复；见恶人无咎。 象曰：见恶人，以辟咎也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject happening to meet with his lord in a bye-passage. There will be no error.
'He happens to meet with his lord in a bye-passage:' - but he has not deviated (for this meeting) from the (proper) course.
九二：遇主于巷，无咎。 象曰：遇主于巷，未失道也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): In the third SIX, divided, we see one whose carriage is dragged back, while the oxen in it are pushed back, and he is himself subjected to the shaving of his head and the cutting off of his nose. There is no good beginning, but there will be a good end.
'We see his carriage dragged back:' - this is indicated by the inappropriateness of the position (of the line). 'There is no (good) beginning, but there will be a (good) end:' - this arises from his meeting with the strong (subject of the topmost line).
六三：见舆曳，其牛掣，其人天且劓，无初有终。 象曰：见舆曳，位不当也。无初有终，遇刚也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the (prevailing) disunion. (But) he meets with the good man (represented by the first line), and they blend their sincere desires together. The position is one of peril, but there will be no mistake.
'They blend their sincere desires together, and there will be no error:' - their (common) aim is carried into effect.
九四：睽孤，遇元夫，交孚，厉无咎。 象曰：交孚无咎，志行也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth SIX, divided, shows that (to its subject) occasion for repentance will disappear. With his relative (and minister he unites closely and readily) as if he were biting through a piece of skin. When he goes forward (with this help), what error can there be?
'With his hereditary minister (he unites closely and easily) as if he were biting through a piece of skin:' - his going forward will afford ground for congratulation.
六五：悔亡，厥宗噬肤，往何咎。 象曰：厥宗噬肤，往有庆也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the (prevailing) disunion. (In the subject of the third line, he seems to) see a pig bearing on its back a load of mud, (or fancies) there is a carriage full of ghosts. He first bends his bow against him, and afterwards unbends it, (for he discovers) that he is not an assailant to injure, but a near relative. Going forward, he shall meet with (genial) rain, and there will be good fortune.
'The good fortune symbolised by meeting with (genial) rain' springs from the passing away of all doubts.
上九：睽孤，见豕负涂，载鬼一车，先张之弧，后说之弧，匪寇婚媾，往遇雨则吉。 象曰：遇雨之吉，群疑亡也。 · 单爻页
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.