Jǐng Source Replenish [hexagram 48]

Yin - controlling line Yang line Yin line Yang line Yang line Yin line

Dependable
Water over
Wind
Water Water element

Fire Wood
噬嗑 Shì kè [21] Gnawing; Eradicating
Opposite
Lake Water
Kùn [47] Confinement; Exhaustion
Inverse
Fire Lake
Kuí [38] Opposition; Diversity
Mutual

Lunar month: 5 ; Host or Controlling line : 6
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井: 改改井, , 井井. 汔, 繘井, 羸, . Jǐng: gǎi yì bù gǎijǐng, wú sàng wú dé, wǎng lái jǐng jǐng. qì zhì, yì wèi yùjǐng, léi qí píng, xiōng.

Looking at Jing, (we think of) how (the site of) a town may be changed, while (the fashion of) its wells undergoes no change. (The water of a well) never disappears and never receives (any great) increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit. If (the drawing) have nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water, the bucket is broken, this is evil.

: , 井; 井养. 改改井, . 汔繘井, . 羸, . Tuàn zhuàn: Xùn hū shuǐ ér shàng shuǐ, jǐng; jǐng yǎng ér bù qióng yě. gǎi yì bù gǎi jǐng, nǎi yǐ gāng zhōng yě. qì zhì yì wèi yù jǐng, wèi yǒu gōng yě. léi qí píng, shì yǐ xiōng yě.

(We have the symbol of) wood in the water and the raising of the water; which (gives us the idea of) a well. A well supplies nourishment and is not (itself) exhausted. ‘The site of a town may be changed, while the fashion of its wells undergoes no change:’ - this is indicated by the central position of the strong lines (in the second and fifth places). ‘The drawing is nearly accomplished, but the rope has not yet reached the water of the well:’ - its service has not yet been accomplished. ‘The bucket is broken:’ - it is this that occasions evil.

: , 井; . Xiàng zhuàn: Mù shàng yǒu shuǐ, jǐng; jūn zǐ yǐ láo mín quàn xiāng.

(The trigram representing) wood and above it that for water form Jing. The superior man, in accordance with this, comforts the people, and. stimulates them to mutual helpfulness.

young yin young yang young yin young yang young yang changing yin
I Ching transform
Water
Heaven
[5] Halting; Needing
Change
: 井泥, 禽. Chū liù: jǐng ní bù shí, jiù jǐng wú qín.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows a well so muddy that men will not drink of it; or an old well to which neither birds (nor other creatures) resort.

: 井泥, . 禽, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jǐng ní bù shí, xià yě. jiùjǐng wú qín, shí shè yě.

‘A well so muddy that men will not drink of it:’ - this is indicated by the low position (of the line). ‘An old well to which the birds do not come:’ - it has been forsaken in the course of time.

young yin young yang young yin young yang changing yang young yin
I Ching transform
Water
Mountain
Jiǎn [39] Obstruction; Hardship
Change
: 井鲋, 瓮敝漏. Jiǔ èr: jǐng gǔ shè fù, wèng bì lòu.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, 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 basket.

: 井鲋, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jǐng gǔ shè fù, wú yǔ yě.

‘A well from which by a hole the water escapes, and flows away to the shrimps:’ - (the subject of this second line has) none co-operating with him (above).

young yin young yang young yin changing yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Water
Water
Kǎn [29] Flow; Darkness
Change
: 井渫, 恻, 汲, , 并. Jiǔ sān: jǐng xiè bù shí, wèi wǒ xīn cè, kě yòng jí, wáng míng, bìng shòu qí fú.

The third ‘nine’, undivided, 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.

: 井渫, . , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jǐng xiè bù shí, xíng cè yě. qiú wáng míng, shòu fú yě.

‘The well has been cleared out, but is not used:’ - (even) passers-by would be sorry for this. A prayer is made ‘that the king were intelligent:’ - for then blessing would be received.

young yin young yang changing yin young yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Lake
Wind
Dà guò [28] Surpassing; Excess
Change
: 井甃, . Liù sì: jǐng zhòu, wú jiù.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows a well, the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error.

井甃, 修井. Xiàng zhuàn: Jǐng zhòu wú jiù, xiūjǐng yě.

‘A well the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error:’ - the well has been put in good repair.

young yin changing yang young yin young yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Wind
Shēng [46] Ascent; Growing up
Change
: 井冽, . Jiǔ wǔ: jǐng liè, hán quán shí.

The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows a clear, limpid well, (the waters from) whose cold spring are (freely) drunk.

, . Xiàng zhuàn: Hán quán zhī shí, zhōng zhèng yě.

‘The waters from the cold spring are (freely) drunk:’ - this is indicated by the central and correct position (of the line).

changing yin young yang young yin young yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Wind
Wind
Xùn [57] Acquiescence; Submission
Change
: 井收幕, . Shàng liù: jǐng shōu wù mù, yǒu fú yuán jí.

The topmost ‘six’, divided, 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.

, . Xiàng zhuàn: Yuán jí zài shàng, dà chéng yě.

'The great good fortune' at the topmost place indicates the grand accomplishment (of the idea in the hexagram).

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also