Hexagram 43 · 夬 · guài
Hexagram 43. Guài · Breakthrough
☱☰ Lake over heaven: Duì above, Qián below.
Kw&i requires (in him who would fulfil its mean¬ ing) the exhibition (of the culprit’s guilt) in the royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal (for sym-
Kw&i requires (in him who would fulfil its mean¬ ing) the exhibition (of the culprit’s guilt) in the royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal (for sym-
One last dark line clings at the top: the evil is nearly spent, yet its remnant is tenacious. Declare your resolution openly, before all — but without fury and without weapons: fighting evil with its own means gives it new root. Firm in the decision, gentle in the manner.
The Image
The lake has risen to heaven itself: breakthrough is inevitable. The last remnant of evil is the one dark line on top — a system's vice, a harmful habit, a person in the wrong seat. Remove it openly: a public decision, clear grounds, and no weapons of its own kind — fighting evil with its means roots it in yourself. Firm in resolve, gentle in execution.
Interpretation of hexagram 43
XLIII. The Kwai Hexagram. so as to dispense benefits to, and increase the resources of all the people. Two indications are evident in the lines;—the strong line in the ruler’s seat, or the fifth line, and the weak line in the correlative place of 2. Whether there be other indications in the figure or its component trigrams will be considered in dealing with the Appendixes. The writer might well say, on general grounds, of the ruler whom he had in mind, that he would be suc¬ cessful in his enterprises and overcome the greatest difficulties.
The lines of hexagram 43
First line
The first line, undivided, shows its subject in (the pride of) strength advancing with his toes. He goes forward, but will not succeed. There will be ground for blame.
Line 1 is strong, but its low position might seem to debar its sub¬ ject from any great enterprise. Favoured as he is, however, according to the general idea of the hexagram, and specially responding to the proper correlate in 4, it is natural that he should make a movement; and great success will make his rashness be forgotten.
Second line
The second line, undivided, shows its subject full of apprehension and appealing (for sympathy and help). Late at night hostile measures may be (taken against him), but he need not be anxious about them.
With paragraph 2 compare paragraph 5 of the preceding hexa¬ gram. Line 2 is weak, but in the centre, and is the correlate of 5. Friends give its subject the valuable gifts mentioned; ‘that is,’ says Kwo Yung (Sung dynasty), 1 men benefit him; the oracles of the divination are in his favour,—spirits, that is, benefit him; and finally, when the king sacrifices to God, He accepts. Heaven confers benefit from above.’
Third line
The third line, undivided, shows its subject (about to advance) with strong (and determined) looks. There will be evil. (But) the superior man, bent on cutting off (the criminal), will walk alone and encounter the rain, (till he be hated by his proper associates) as if he were contaminated (by the others). (In the end) there will be no blame against him.
Line 3 is weak, neither central, nor in its correct position. It would seem therefore that its subject should have no increase given to him. But it is the time for giving increase, and the idea of his receiving it by means of evil things is put into the line. That such things serve for reproof and correction is well known to Chinese moralists. But the paragraph goes on also to caution and admonish.
Fourth line
The fourth line, undivided, shows one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped, and who walks slowly and with difficulty. (If he could act) like a sheep led (after its companions), occasion for repentance would disappear. But though he hear these words, he will not believe them.
Line 4 is the place for a minister, near to that of the ruler. Its subject is weak, but his place is appropriate, and as he follows the
Fifth line
The fifth line, undivided, shows (the small men like) a bed of purslain, which ought to be uprooted with the utmost determination. (The subject of the line having such determination), his action, in harmony with his central position, will lead to no error or blame.
pathy and support), with a consciousness of the peril (involved in cutting off the criminal). He should (also) make announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms. (In this way) there will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to.
Top line
The sixth line, divided, shows its subject with¬ out any (helpers) on whom to call. His end will be evil.
due course, his ruler will listen to him, and he will be a support in the most critical movements. Changing the capital from place to place was frequent in the feudal times of China. That of Shang, which preceded K&w, was changed five times.
Did hexagram 43 come up in your reading? The oracle itself gives the full reading, with changing lines and the second hexagram.
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