I Ching Hexagram 64 - Before Completion
Description and interpretations of I Ching hexagram 64 "Before Completion".
未濟 - Wèi Jì
Hỏa Thủy Vị Tế
Before Completion
Upper Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Lower Trigram: ☵ Kan, Water
Other Titles: Unfinished Business, What is not yet Past, Not-yet Fording, Not Yet Completed, Tasks yet to be Completed, Not yet, Yet to be, Before the End, Mission yet Unaccomplished, A State of Transition
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Before Completion. Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further.
Legge: Unfinished Business suggests successful progress, but if the young fox that has nearly crossed the stream gets his tail wet, there will be no advantage.
Blofeld: Before Completion -- success! Before the little fox has quite completed its crossing of the ice, its tail gets wet. (This implies that we are to expect a setback in our plans.) No goal (or destination) is favorable now.
Liu: Before Completion. Success. A young fox almost across wets his tail in the water. Nothing benefits.
Shaughnessy: Not Yet Completed: Receipt; the little fox at the point of fording, wets his tail; there is no place beneficial.
Cleary (1): Being as yet unsettled is developmental. A small fox, having nearly crossed the river, gets its tail wet, does not succeed.
Cleary (2): Being unsettled leads to success. A little fox, almost crossing, gets its tail wet. Nothing is gained.
Wu: Mission yet Unaccomplished indicates pervasiveness. A little fox almost makes it crossing the river, but gets its tail wet. Nothing is gained.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Fire over water: the image of the condition before transition. Thus the superior man is careful in the differentiation of things, so that each finds its place.
Legge: Fire over water -- the image of Unfinished Business. The superior man carefully discriminates among the qualities of things, and the different positions they naturally occupy.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire above water. The Superior Man takes care to distinguish between things before arranging them in order.
Liu: Fire above water symbolizes Before Completion. The superior man carefully distinguishes things, and puts them in their appropriate place.
Cleary (1): Fire is above water, not yet settled. Thus superior people carefully discern things and keep them in their places.
Cleary (2): Fire over water – unsettled.
Wu: There is fire above water; this is Mission yet Unaccomplished. Thus the jun zi makes careful distinction of things and their proper places of being.
Line 1
初六: 濡其尾, 吝．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He gets his tail in the water. Humiliating.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows its subject like a fox whose tail gets immersed. There will be occasion for regret.
Blofeld: Its tail gets wet -- disgrace! (If we receive this moving line, the setback is likely to be discreditable to us.)
Liu: He wets his tail. Humiliation.
Shaughnessy: Wetting his tail; distress.
Cleary (1): Getting the tail wet, one is humiliated.
Cleary (2): Getting the tail wet is humiliating.
Wu: The tail is immersed. Humiliating.
Line 2
九二: 曳其輪, 貞吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He brakes his wheels. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows its subject dragging back the carriage wheel. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: He brakes the wheel of the chariot -- righteous persistence brings good fortune! (But note that he uses his brake; i.e. our persistence must be in the form of determination to halt now and proceed later.)
Liu: He brakes the wheel. Continuing -- good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Dragging his sash; determination.
Cleary (1): Dragging the wheels, it bodes well to be upright.
Cleary (2): … Rectitude is auspicious.
Wu: He pulls back the wheels. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 3
六三: 未濟, 征凶, 利涉大川．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Before completion, attack brings misfortune. It furthers one (Sic) to cross the great water.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows its subject with the state of things not yet remedied, advancing on; which will lead to evil. But there will be advantage (Sic) in trying to cross the great stream.
Blofeld: The crossing is incomplete, so to advance now would bring misfortune; yet it will be advantageous (Sic) to cross the great river (or sea). (The second and third clauses of this passage appear contradictory; but not if we interpret them to mean that, though we must halt for a while, we should preserve our determination to go forward to the end when conditions warrant an advance.)
Liu: Before completion achieving success, continuing -- misfortune. It is beneficial (Sic) to cross the great water. (This line indicates frustration.)
Shaughnessy: Not yet completed; to be upright is inauspicious; beneficial (Sic) to ford the great river.
Cleary (1): As yet unsettled, it bodes ill to go on an expedition, but it is beneficial (Sic) to cross great rivers.
Cleary (2): While unsettled, etc.
Wu: In time of Mission yet Unaccomplished, going forward is foreboding, but crossing the great river is advantageous (Sic).
Line 4
九四: 貞吉, 悔亡．震用伐鬼方, 三年. 有賞于大國．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's Country. For three years, great realms are awarded.
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows its subject by firm correctness obtaining good fortune, so that all occasion for repentance disappears. Let him stir himself up, as if he were invading the Demon region, where for three years rewards will come to him and his troops from the great kingdom.
Blofeld: Persistence in a righteous course brings reward and regret vanishes. The subjugation of the land of Kuei involved tremendous activity; but, at the end of three years, great territories were bestowed upon the successful generals. (This implies that we must work and, perhaps, suffer much in order to gain the fulfillment of our will promised in the commentary on this line.)
Liu: Continuing -- good fortune. Remorse vanishes. Great power is used to attack the land of the barbarians. Within three years, rewards from the Great Country.
Shaughnessy: Determination is auspicious; regret is gone. Zhen herewith attacks the Devil-land, in three years having a reward from the great state.
Cleary (1): Remaining correct brings good results, regret vanishes; rising up to conquer the barbarians, in three years one will have the reward of a great country.
Cleary (2): Correctness brings good results; regret vanishes. Vigorously acting to conquer barbarians, etc.
Wu: To be persevering is auspicious and regrets will disappear. A general was appointed to conquer Guifan and decorated accordingly after three years.
Line 5
六五: 貞,吉,无悔．君子之光有孚.吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Perseverance brings good fortune. No remorse. The light of the superior man is true. Good fortune.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows its subject by firm correctness obtaining good fortune, and having no occasion for repentance. We see in her the brightness of superior intelligence, and the possession of sincerity. There will be good fortune.
Blofeld: Persistence in a righteous course brings good fortune and absence of regret. The lustre of the Superior Man wins people's confidence -- hence the good fortune.
Liu: Continuing -- good fortune. No remorse. The glory of the superior man wins the confidence of the people. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Determination is auspicious; regret is gone. The gentleman's radiance has a return; auspicious.
Cleary (1): Remaining correct brings good results, without regret; the light of a superior person has truth and goodness.
Cleary (2): Correctness brings good results; regret vanishes. The illumination of developed people leads to good results.
Wu: To be persevering is auspicious. There will be no regrets. This shows the brilliance of the jun zi. With confidence, there will be good fortune.
Line 6
上九: 有孚于飲酒, 无咎．濡其首, 有孚, 失是．
Wilhelm/Baynes: There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets his head, he loses it, in truth.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows its subject full of confidence and therefore feasting quietly. There will be no error. If he exceeds this confidence, till he is like the fox who gets his head immersed, he will fail of what is right.
Blofeld: Those in whom the people repose their trust may feast themselves without doing wrong; but if they allow their heads to get wet they will forfeit that trust. (This is a warning against excess. We have every right to enjoy our good fortune within reasonable bounds; but, if we are guilty of an excess comparable to that of drunken men who pour wine over one another's heads, we shall forfeit the high esteem in which we are (or soon will be) held.)
Liu: He drinks wine with confidence. No blame. When his head gets wet, he loses confidence.
Shaughnessy: There is a return in drinking wine; there is no trouble. Wetting his head; there is a return, losing this.
Cleary (1): Having faith, one drinks wine without blame. When one gets one’s head wet, having faith ceases to be right.
Cleary (2): There is sincerity in drinking wine, without fault. But if one becomes totally immersed, having faith ceases to be right.
Wu: Having confidence in one’s capacity in drinking wine is not a cause for error. However, if he immerses his head in it, the confidence is misplaced.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 64 represents a time when order has become disorder. The Yin and Yang lines are not in their proper position. It means both Water and Fire cannot work together.
Your groundwork is not yet finished and rushing to completion now is dangerous. Take extreme care by taking things one step at a time. Being impulsive and careless in conducting affairs will result in failure. With caution, progress, and success arrive. Recognition also comes your way.
