井 Jǐng The well (Replenish) [hexagram 48]
Water over Wind/Wood
Water element
Lunar month: 5 ; Host or Controlling line : 6
井: 改邑不改井, 无丧无得, 往来井井. 汔至, 亦未繘井, 羸其瓶, 凶. 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.
彖传: 巽乎水而上水, 井; 井养而不穷也. 改邑不改井, 乃以刚中也. 汔至亦未繘井, 未有功也. 羸其瓶, 是以凶也. 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.
象传: 木上有水, 井; 君子以劳民劝相. 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.
初六: 井泥不食, 旧井无禽. 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.
象传: 井泥不食, 下也. 旧井无禽, 时舍也. 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.
九二: 井谷射鲋, 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.
象传: 井谷射鲋, 无与也. 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).
九三: 井渫不食, 为我心恻, 可用汲, 王明, 并受其福. 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.
象传: 井渫不食, 行恻也. 求王明, 受福也. 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.
六四: 井甃, 无咎. 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.
井甃无咎, 修井也. 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.
九五: 井冽, 寒泉食. 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.
寒泉之食, 中正也. 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).
上六: 井收勿幕, 有孚元吉. 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.
元吉在上, 大成也. 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).