Hexagram 54: Guī Mèi (The Marrying Maiden)
雷泽归妹 · 第 54 卦 · Thunder over Lake · 中文版
The Judgment
Gui Mei indicates that (under the conditions which it denotes) action will be evil, and in no wise advantageous.
归妹：征凶，无攸利。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
By Gui Mei (the marrying away of a younger sister) the great and righteous relation between heaven and earth (is suggested to us). If heaven and earth were to have no intercommunication, things would not grow and flourish as they do. The marriage of a younger sister is the end (of her maidenhood) and the beginning (of her motherhood). We have (in the hexagram the desire of) pleasure and, on the ground of that, movement following. The marrying away is of a younger sister. 'Any action will be evil:' - the places (of the lines) are not those appropriate to them. 'It will be in no wise advantageous:' - the weak (third and fifth lines) are mounted on strong lines.
彖曰：归妹，天地之大义也。天地不交，而万物不兴。归妹，人之终始也。说以动，所归妹也。征凶，位不当也。无攸利，柔乘刚也。
The Great Image
(The trigram representing the waters of) a marsh and over it that for thunder form Gui Mei. The superior man, in accordance with this, having regard to the far-distant end, knows the mischief (that may be done at the beginning).
象曰：泽上有雷，归妹；君子以永终知敝。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first NINE, undivided, shows the younger sister married off in a position ancillary to the real wife. (It suggests the idea of) a person lame on one leg who yet manages to tramp along. Going forward will be fortunate.
'The younger sister is married off in a position ancillary to that of the real wife:' - it is the constant practice (for such a case). 'Lame on one leg, she is able to tramp along:' - she can render helpful service.
初九：归妹以娣，跛能履，征吉。 象曰：归妹以娣，以恒也。跛能履，吉相承也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second NINE, undivided, shows her blind of one eye, and yet able to see. There will be advantage in her maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow.
'There will be advantage in maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow:' - (the subject of the line) has not changed from the constancy (proper to a wife).
九二：眇能视，利幽人之贞。 象曰：利幽人之贞，未变常也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third SIX, divided, shows the younger sister who was to be married off in a mean position. She returns and accepts an ancillary position.
'The younger sister who was to be married off is in a mean position:' - this is shown by the improprieties (indicated in the line).
六三：归妹以须，反归以娣。 象曰：归妹以须，未当也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the younger sister who is to be married off protracting the time. She may be late in being married, but the time will come.
(The purpose in) 'protracting the time' is that, after waiting, the thing may be done (all the better).
九四：归妹愆期，迟归有时。 象曰：愆期之志，有待而行也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth SIX, divided, reminds us of the marrying of the younger sister of (king) Di-yi, when the sleeves of her the princess were not equal to those of the (still) younger sister who accompanied her in an inferior capacity. (The case suggests the thought of) the moon almost full. There will be good fortune.
'The sleeves of the younger sister of (king) Di-yi, when she was married away, were not equal to those of her (half-)sister, who accompanied her:' - such was her noble character, indicated by the central position of the line.
六五：帝乙归妹，其君之袂，不如其娣之袂良，月几望，吉。 象曰：帝乙归妹，不如其娣之袂良也。其位在中，以贵行也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The sixth SIX, divided, shows the young lady bearing the basket, but without anything in it, and the gentleman slaughtering the sheep, but without blood flowing from it. There will be no advantage in any way.
'(What is said in) the sixth SIX, (divided),about there being nothing in the basket' shows that the subject of it is carrying an empty basket.
上六：女承筐无实，士刲羊无血，无攸利。 象曰：上六无实，承虚筐也。 · 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.