I Ching Hexagram 24 - Return
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 24 "Return"
復 - Fù
Địa Lôi Phục
Return
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☷ Kun, Earth
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☳ Zhen, Thunder
Other Titles: The Turning Point, The Symbol of Returning, Revival, Recovery, To Repeat, Renewal, Restore, Return to the Way, Cyclic Repetition.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Return. Success. Going out and coming in without error. Friends come without blame. To and fro goes the way. On the seventh day comes return. It furthers one to have somewhere to go.
Legge: Progress and freedom of action are found in Return. Goings and comings are unimpeded, and friends approach without error. Return to repeat the proper course. Seven days returns the cycle to its beginning. There is advantage in choosing one's path.
Blofeld: Return. Success! All going forth and coming in is free from harm. [For it is only when the whole series is completed that we can understand the reasons for many things (death, winter and so on) which, at the time, seemed unproductive, negative or positively evil.] Friends arrive and no error is involved. They return whence they came, spending seven days in all upon their coming and returning. It is favorable to have in view some goal (or destination).
Liu: Return: success. One goes out and comes back in without harm. Friends arrive without blame. Going to and fro is the way. Returning on the seventh day. It benefits one to go anywhere. [Return or Revival signifies a bad time becoming better... Anyone receiving this hexagram should prepare for a great opportunity...]
Shaughnessy: Returning: Receipt; in exiting and entering there is no illness; when the burying comes there is no trouble; turning around and returning to its way, in seven days it comes in return; beneficial to have someplace to go.
Cleary (1): Return is developmental. Exiting and entering, there is no ill. When a companion comes, there is no fault. Reversing the path, returning in seven days, it is beneficial to have a place to go.
Cleary (2): Return is successful, etc. … Returning back on the path, etc.
Wu: Renewal is pervasive. He who comes and goes will have no error. Friends come without harm. The course repeats itself. In seven days, one cycle of reversion completes. There will be advantage to have an undertaking.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Thunder within the earth: the image of The Turning Point. Thus the kings of antiquity closed the passes at the time of the solstice. Merchants and strangers did not go about, and the ruler did not travel through the provinces.
Legge: Thunder in the middle of the earth -- the image of Return. Thus the ancient kings closed the passes on the day of the winter solstice to prevent travelers from pursuing their journeys, and princes from inspecting their states.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes thunder in the bowels of the earth. [The component trigrams in this position suggest thunder coming from under the earth; but the trigram of thunder also means to sprout or quicken; it is this concept of a quickening within the earth that makes this hexagram generally favorable.] The ancient rulers closed the passes during the solstices [The solstices were times for solemn sacrifice; it has always been the practice in China for people to return to their homes for the celebration of the great yearly festivals. Return in this sense is highly auspicious.] and the merchants were unable to travel. Even the rulers abstained from touring their territories at those times.
Liu: Thunder in the earth symbolizes Return. Thus in ancient times the kings closed the roads during the winter solstice. Merchants and travelers ceased traveling. And rulers would not visit their territories.
Cleary (1): Thunder is in the earth; Return. Thus did the kings of yore shut the gates on the winter solstice; caravans did not travel, the ruler did not inspect the regions.
Wu: Thunder is inside the earth; this is Renewal. Thus on the day of the winter solstice, the ancient kings ordered the city gates closed, so that merchants and travelers could take a break of their journeys; the kings refrained from performing official duties.
Line 1
初九: 不遠復, 无祇悔, 元吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Return from a short distance. No need for remorse. Great good fortune.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows its subject returning from an error of no great extent, which would not proceed to anything requiring repentance. There will be great good fortune.
Blofeld: Returning from nearby -- nothing much to regret and sublime good fortune!
Liu: Return from not far away. No remorse. Great good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Not returning from afar; there is no mention of regret; prime auspiciousness.
Cleary (1): Returning not far; no regret.
Cleary (2): Returning not far, no regret, very auspicious.
Wu: He does not wander far from Return. There will be no cause for regret. Great fortune.
Line 2
六二: 休復, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Quiet return. Good fortune.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows the admirable return of its subject. There will be good fortune.
Blofeld: A return blessed by heaven -- good fortune!
Liu: Quiet return. Good fortune. [It benefits one to rely on an influential person.]
Shaughnessy: Beneficent return; auspicious.
Cleary: Good return; auspicious.
Wu: He who admires Return will find auspiciousness.
Line 3
六三: 頻復, 厲, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Repeated return. Danger. No blame.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows one who has made repeated returns. The position is perilous, but there will be no error.
Blofeld: Frequent returns -- trouble, but no error!
Liu: Frequent returns. Danger. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Sequenced return; danger; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Repeated return; danger, no fault.
Cleary (2): Repeated return is diligence. There is no fault.
Wu: He who regains Return after repeatedly losing it will be in a perilous position, but blameless. [The person seems to be unable to stay on course, but manages to correct his error every time as soon as he knows it. A combination of vacillation and endeavor to be right earns him a passing grade.]
Line 4
六四: 中行, 獨復．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Walking in the midst of others, one returns alone.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows its subject moving right in the center among those represented by the other divided lines, and yet returning alone to her proper path.
Blofeld: Setting forth in company, but returning alone. [This suggests that our companions will try (or are trying) to lead us astray and that we must let them go forward alone.]
Liu: One walks among others but returns by oneself. [Now is the time to better yourself.]
Shaughnessy: In the ranks there is solitary return.
Cleary: Traveling in the center, returning alone.
Wu: Being in the middle, he alone finds Return.
Line 5
六五: 敦復, 无悔．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Noble hearted return. No remorse.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows the noble return of its subject. There will be no ground for repentance.
Blofeld: Returning for some high purpose -- no regret!
Liu: Benevolent return. No remorse.
Shaughnessy: Thick return; there is no regret.
Cleary: Attentive return; no regret.
Wu: He attains Return with assiduities. There will be no regret.
Line 6
上六: 迷復, 凶．有災眚．用行師, 終有大敗, 以其國君凶, 至于十年, 不克征．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Missing the return. Misfortune. Misfortune from within and without. If armies are set marching in this way, one will in the end suffer a great defeat, disastrous for the ruler of the country. For ten years it will not be possible to attack again.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows its subject all astray on the subject of returning. There will be evil. There will be calamity and errors. If with her views she puts the hosts in motion, the end will be a great defeat, whose issues will extend to the ruler of the state. Even in ten years she will not be able to repair the disaster.
Blofeld: A confused return -- misfortune! Disasters and injury threaten. Armies set marching, but ultimately a great defeat takes place. Disaster is about to overtake the ruler and for at least ten years there can be no hope of putting things to right.
Liu: Confusing return. Misfortune, disaster. If there is a battle, there will be a great defeat. The ruler of the nation will meet disaster, and it (Sic) will be unable to attack for ten years. [At this time quietness ensures good fortune, but action leads to misfortune.]
Shaughnessy: Lost return; inauspicious. There being this inspection, herewith move troops; in the end there will be a great defeat, together with its state lord; inauspicious; until the tenth year you cannot make it upright.
Cleary: Straying from return is bad; there is trouble. A military expedition will end in a great defeat, which is disastrous even for the ruler of the nation; even in ten years there is no victory.
Wu: Losing Return in bewilderment will be foreboding. There will be calamities. If he leads his army in battles, he will be thoroughly defeated in the end. The disaster will inflict his ruler as well. Even in ten years he will not win.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 24 tells you to return or restart. It is a time of transition, a time for the old ways to be discarded, so a new way can come into existence.
It is also a sign of growth and a turning point. New relationships with like-minded people will be formed.
This period is strengthened by rest. Learn from those who know more than you. Your energy will become stronger to face any new challenges ahead.
