既濟

Hexagram 63: After Completion → Hexagram 53: Development

既濟
After Completion
Water / Fire
Development
Wind / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 1, 6).

Line 1

初九 曳其輪。濡其尾。无咎。

braking
those
lúnwheels
soaking
that
wěitail
no
jiùblame

Nine at the beginning means: He breaks his wheels. He gets his tail in the water. No blame.

Line 6

上六 濡其首。厲。

soaking
that
shǒuhead
harsh

Six at the top means: He gets his head in the water. Danger.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramWater WindThe Deep → The Gentle
Lower TrigramFire MountainThe Clinging → Keeping Still

Yilin Verse

明德克敏,重華貢舉。放勳徵用,八哲蒙佑。

Bright virtue, keen and capable; Chonghua presented for service. Emperor Fangxun employs them; the eight sages receive protection.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Water sits above fire, and one of brilliant virtue and keen ability — Chonghua, Emperor Shun — is recommended for office. Fangxun, Emperor Yao, summons and employs him, and the eight wise counselors receive heaven's blessing. Chonghua (重華) is Shun's legendary name, meaning 'doubled radiance' for his double-pupiled eyes. Fangxun (放勳) is Yao's honorific. The eight wise men (八哲) likely refer to the eight able ministers who served under the sage-kings. From After Completion to Development, fire-and-water balance yields to wood growing upon the mountain — gradual, organic advancement. Development's goose alights on ever-higher branches; Shun's elevation from farmer to emperor was similarly incremental, each stage earned through proven merit.

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