I Ching Hexagram 48 - The Well
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 48 "The Well"
井 - Jǐng
Thủy Phong Tỉnh
The Well
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☵ Kan, Water
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☴ Xun, Wind
Other Titles: Welling, Potentialities Fulfilled, The Source, The Deep Psyche.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: The Well. The town may be changed, but the well cannot be changed. It neither decreases nor increases. They come and go and draw from the well. If one gets down almost to the water and the rope does not go all the way, or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune.
Legge: Although a town site may be altered, The Well remains the same. Its water level neither disappears nor receives any great increase, and the people can draw from it freely. Misfortune ensues if the rope breaks or the bucket is broken before it reaches the water.
Blofeld: A Well. A city may be moved, but not a well. [The building of a city depends upon ourselves; but wells cannot be moved to places where nature supplies no water. The implication is that our activities are limited by natural conditions.] A well suffers from no decrease and no increase; but often, when the people come to draw water there, the rope is too short or the pitcher gets broken before reaching the water -- misfortune! [What we desire is there for the taking, but we may not succeed in getting it.]
Liu: The Well. The city might be moved; but not the well. It neither overflows nor runs dry. People come and go, drawing from the well. The rope nearly reaches the water, but not quite; the jug breaks -- misfortune.
Shaughnessy: The Well: Changing the city but not changing the well; there is no loss, there is no gain. Going and coming so orderly; when the drying up arrives one also has not yet drawn from the well; burdening its formed earthenware jug; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): The Well: Changing the village, not changing the well; no loss, no gain. Those who come and go use the well as a well. If the rope does not reach all the way into the well, of if the bucket breaks, that is unfortunate.
Cleary (2): … People come and go, but the well remains a well. Lowering the bucket to the water, if you overturn the bucket before drawing it up from the well, this is unlucky.
Wu: The Well indicates that the planning of a district may be changed, but the location of the well may not. The water level of a well will neither increase nor decrease from use. There are wells here and there. When one is drawing water from a well, if he tangles the rope and damages the bucket just before it clears the well, it will be foreboding.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Water over wood: the image of The Well. Thus the superior man encourages the people at their work and exhorts them to help one another.
Legge: The image of water over wood forms The Well. The superior man comforts the people and stimulates their mutual cooperation.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes water over wood. The Superior Man encourages the people with advice and assistance.
Liu: Water on wood symbolizes The Well. The superior man inspires people to work diligently, and advises them to help each other.
Cleary: There is water above wood – A Well. Thus do superior people comfort the people and encourage reciprocity.
Wu: There is water above wood; this is The Well. Thus, the jun zi encourages people to work for the good of the public and to help one another for a better life.
Line 1
初六: 井泥不食．舊井无禽．
Wilhelm/Baynes: One does not drink the mud of the well. No animals come to an old well.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows a well so muddy that men will not drink of it; or an old well to which neither birds nor other creatures resort.
Blofeld: The muddy water at the well bottom is undrinkable; an old well attracts no animals.
Liu: No one drinks from a muddy well. Even animals do not come to an old well. [A time of obstacles.]
Shaughnessy: If the well is muddy do not drink; the old well does not have game.
Cleary: Mud in a well is not to be consumed. There are no animals at an abandoned well.
Wu: The muddy water is not drinkable. The old well has nothing to offer.
Line 2
九二: 井谷, 射鮒, 甕敝漏．
Wilhelm/Baynes: At the well-hole one shoots fishes. The jug is broken and leaks.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows a well from which by a hole the water escapes and flows away to the shrimps and such small creatures among the grass, or one the water of which leaks away from a broken bucket.
Blofeld: Perch dart from the water in the well hole; the pitcher is worn out and leaks. [We are doubly unfortunate in that natural conditions (signified by fish in the water) and our own ineptitude or misfortune combine to ensure our failure.]
Liu: The well is like a valley (it is collapsed). The fish can be seen. The jug is old and it leaks. [One should be cautious now to avoid disaster.]
Shaughnessy: If the well is murky shoot the smelt; it is only the worn-out fish-trap.
Cleary (1): The depths of the well water a frog. The jar leaks. [While in the middle of self-development, if one wants to develop others before one’s own development is sufficient, one will be of no benefit to others, and will harm oneself first.]
Cleary (2): The depths of the well a minnow. The jar is broken and leaks. [This second yang is intellectual Buddhahood, where one has been influenced somewhat by learning but has not yet become a vessel of truth.]
Wu: The well is nearly dried up, with little water left for small fish. If one tries to draw water from it, the bucket will be damaged. [Apparently the water table has changed, which prevents water from flowing into the well. Trying to draw water from it not only is unsuccessful, but also will damage the bucket. The little water may be enough for small fish, but it is not enough for people.]
Line 3
九三: 井渫不食, 為我心惻．可用汲. 王明, 並受其福．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The well is cleaned, but no one drinks from it. This is my heart's sorrow, for one might draw from it. If the king were clear-minded, good fortune might be enjoyed in common.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows a well which has been cleared out, but is not used. Our hearts are sorry for this, for the water might be drawn out and used. If the king were only intelligent, both he and we might receive the benefit of it.
Blofeld: The well has been cleaned out; to my heart's sorrow, no one drinks from it, though it could well be used to supply drinking water. [If we fail now, it is not for lack of opportunity but because we do not make use of opportunity.] The King is wise and it is possible for the people to share his good fortune.
Liu: The well has been cleared, but still no one drinks from it. This is sorrowful for me (the well), for others might draw from it. If the king is enlightened, he will use it for the benefit of all.
Shaughnessy: If the well is seeping do not drink; it makes my heart blocked; it can be used to draw water; the king's brightness together receives its blessing.
Cleary: The well is cleared, but not drunk from; this is the concern of one’s heart. It is worth drawing from. When the ruler is enlightened, all receive the blessing. [This line refers to one whose self-development is fulfilled.]
Wu: The well water is clean, but it is not used for drinking. It is a pity. If it were drawn for drinking, as it should be, then we all would benefit from it like people enjoying the reign of a perspicacious king.
Line 4
六四: 井甃, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The well is being lined. No blame.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows a well, the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error.
Blofeld: The well is being tiled -- no error!
Liu: The well is being rebuilt. No blame.
Shaughnessy: The well is walled; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): The well is tiled, without fault.
Cleary (2): When the well is tiled, there is no fault.
Wu: There is no error in repairing the well.
Line 5
九五: 井洌, 寒泉食．
Wilhelm/Baynes: In the well there is a clear, cold spring from which one can drink.
Legge: The fifth line, dynamic, shows a clear, limpid well, the waters from whose cold spring are freely drunk.
Blofeld: The well is cool; its water tastes like water from an icy spring. [All goes well with us.]
Liu: The water of the well is clear and cool. People drink from it. [People will succeed in their undertakings and profit from them.]
Shaughnessy: If the well is crisscrossed with cold springs, drink.
Cleary (1): The well is pure, the cold spring is used for drinking.
Cleary (2): The cold spring in the well is drunk from.
Wu: The well water is fresh and clean. It is like drinking from a cool spring.
Line 6
上六: 井收, 勿幕, 有孚, 元吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: One draws from the well without hindrance. It is dependable. Supreme good fortune.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows the water from the well brought to the top, which is not allowed to be covered. This suggests the idea of sincerity. There will be great good fortune.
Blofeld: The well-rope lies unconcealed -- confidence and supreme good fortune!
Liu: The well is clean, without a cover. There is confidence that water can be drawn. Great good fortune.
Shaughnessy: If the well is arrested, do not cover it; there is a return; prime auspiciousness.
Cleary (1): The well is being drawn from; don’t cover it. Great fortune.
Cleary (2): Do not cover the well enclosure. There is nurturance, which is very fortunate.
Wu: The water is being drawn and the well is left uncovered. With confidence in its inexhaustible supply, people will have great fortune.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 48 water over wind. You have everything you need already within you. No matter what the situation is, you can achieve anything. But you need to pursue this course of action and dig much deeper to find out more in order to get things done. If you proceed carelessly, you will experience difficulties.
Jing is a well that stores water. If the well is clean and well maintained, the water that you draw from it will be nourishing. But if it is dirty and neglected, the water will bring illness. The value of it depends on how well you maintain a constant supply of clean water.
