䷥ K'uei kuí
Core Meaning
The K'uei hexagram reveals the wisdom of dealing with divergence and opposition. Disagreements are not to be feared; the key is how to resolve them. K'uei emphasizes: in the beginning, there's no need to chase after what's lost, 'a lost horse returns by itself' – let nature take its course; accept those who oppose you, 'seeing a bad person is no fault' – let go of prejudices; even if the situation is difficult, it can be resolved, 'no good in the beginning, but a good end' – wait patiently; when isolated, seek cooperation, 'meeting a worthy man, mutually trusting' – sincere interaction; handle disagreements gently, 'bites at a piece of tender meat' – resolve with mildness; ultimately, doubts can be eliminated, 'encountering rain brings auspiciousness' – Yin and Yang harmonize. The wisdom of K'uei lies in: seeking common ground while preserving differences, valuing harmony above all, letting go of prejudice, and communicating sincerely. Modern society is diverse, and it needs the spirit of K'uei even more: accepting differences, resolving conflicts, and seeking unity amidst opposition.
The Judgment
Small matters are auspicious.
Interpretation:
The K'uei hexagram symbolizes opposition and divergence; small matters can lead to auspiciousness. Fire ascends, the lake descends; two women living together but with different resolves. Though all things diverge, their categories are similar; seeking common ground while preserving differences is wisdom.
The Image
Fire above, Lake below: K'uei. The superior person attains unity despite differences.
Structure
The K'uei hexagram has Dui (Lake) below and Li (Fire) above, forming the image of Fire over Lake, K'uei. Fire blazes upwards, water flows downwards; their directions are opposite, which is the image of 'K'uei' (divergence). The lower trigram Dui represents the youngest daughter, the upper trigram Li represents the middle daughter; two women living together but with different aspirations, also an image of divergence. K'uei is not absolute opposition, but 'unity despite differences'. Heaven and Earth diverge but their functions are the same; male and female diverge but their wills communicate; all things diverge yet belong to the same category. There is unity within opposition, harmony within differences; this is the wisdom of the K'uei hexagram. 'Joyful and attached to brightness,' being cheerful and adhering to the light; 'softly advancing and ascending,' Yin and Yang eventually unite. The K'uei hexagram tells us: divergence is normal, the key is how to handle it. Carefully and cautiously dealing with small matters can ultimately resolve opposition.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial Nine: Repentance vanishes. If you lose your horse, do not pursue it, it will return of its own accord. To see a bad person is no fault.
Nine in the second place: Meeting the lord in a narrow lane. No fault.
Six in the third place: Seeing a carriage dragged, its oxen held back, and its driver branded and his nose cut off. No good in the beginning, but a good end.
Nine in the fourth place: Isolated in divergence. Meeting a worthy man, mutually trusting. Perilous, but no fault.
Six in the fifth place: Repentance vanishes. The clan bites at a piece of tender meat. What blame can there be in going forward?
Top Nine: Isolated in divergence. Seeing a pig covered in mud, and a carriage full of ghosts. First drawing the bow, then unstringing it. Not a robber but a marital union. Going forward, encountering rain brings auspiciousness.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
It's normal to have disagreements in a team; 'unity despite differences' is wisdom. Don't force uniformity; 'a lost horse, do not pursue' – let some things take their natural course. Don't see those with different opinions as enemies; 'seeing a bad person is no fault' – let go of prejudices and communicate. When you meet like-minded people, 'meeting the lord in a narrow lane' – cherish such encounters. When encountering difficulties and obstacles, 'no good in the beginning, but a good end' – though the start is hard, it will eventually be resolved. When feeling isolated, seek alliances; 'meeting a worthy man, mutually trusting' – sincere cooperation eliminates estrangement. Handle conflicts gently; 'bites at a piece of tender meat' – resolve in a mild way. The most frightening thing is excessive suspicion, 'seeing a pig covered in mud, and a carriage full of ghosts' – in fact, the other party is not an enemy but a potential collaborator. 'Encountering rain brings auspiciousness' – ultimately, Yin and Yang harmonize, and the team becomes cohesive.
❤️ Relationships
Handle disagreements in a relationship rationally. 'Two women living together but with different resolves' – two people are inherently different, don't force uniformity. After an argument, there's no need to cling to it; 'a lost horse returns by itself' – giving each other space will naturally improve things. Tolerate the other's shortcomings; 'seeing a bad person is no fault' – no one is perfect. Cherish meeting the right person; 'meeting the lord in a narrow lane' – fate is rare. Don't give up when the relationship is difficult; 'no good in the beginning, but a good end' – though the start is hard, you will eventually reconcile. When feeling lonely, initiate communication; 'mutually trusting' – sincere exchange eliminates misunderstandings. Handle conflicts gently; 'bites at a piece of tender meat' – resolve as gently as biting soft flesh. The most feared thing is being overly suspicious, thinking the other person is cheating when it's just a misunderstanding, 'not a robber but a marital union' – not an enemy, but a lover. 'Encountering rain brings auspiciousness' – Yin and Yang harmonize, and the relationship is beautiful.
🎯 Decision Making
When making decisions, calmly deal with disagreements. 'The importance of K'uei is indeed great!' – opportunities are hidden in opposition. Don't rush to impose uniformity; 'unity despite differences' – seek common ground while preserving differences. Some things don't need to be forced; 'a lost horse returns by itself' – letting nature take its course may be better. Be open to different opinions; 'seeing a bad person is no fault' – perhaps it's your own prejudice. Cherish supporters; 'meeting the lord in a narrow lane' – opportunities are rare. Don't be discouraged by difficulties; 'no good in the beginning, but a good end' – persistence will solve them. When isolated, seek cooperation; 'mutually trusting' – sincerity can bridge gaps. Handle conflicts gently; 'bites at a piece of tender meat' – a mild approach is more effective. Avoid being overly suspicious; 'first drawing the bow, then unstringing it' – see clearly before deciding. 'Encountering rain brings auspiciousness' – opposition can eventually be reconciled.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The biggest warning of the K'uei hexagram is not to treat differences as hostility. 'Isolated in divergence' is the most dangerous, isolating oneself due to disagreements. 'Seeing a pig covered in mud, and a carriage full of ghosts' warns: excessive suspicion can make you see normal people as demons. 'First drawing the bow' – look carefully before acting, don't accidentally harm the innocent. The predicament of 'Six in the third place' warns: being caught in opposing forces is difficult, but 'no good in the beginning, but a good end' – don't give up. Be vigilant against: breaking off relations over minor disagreements, treating those with different opinions as enemies, losing trust due to suspicion, and being stubborn and unwilling to communicate. Remember: 'Heaven and Earth diverge but their functions are the same; male and female diverge but their wills communicate' – superficial opposition may share a common essence. 'Unity despite differences' is wisdom; embracing differences, seeking common ground while preserving differences, and ultimately 'encountering rain brings auspiciousness' – Yin and Yang will harmonize.
Applicable Scenarios
The K'uei hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
The reconciliation of General and Prime Minister (Lian Po and Lin Xiangru) exemplifies the wisdom of the K'uei hexagram. Lin Xiangru's rank surpassed Lian Po's after he returned the jade bi to Zhao (Perfect Bi Returned to Zhao), and Lian Po was displeased; 'K'uei' had formed. Lin Xiangru 'saw a bad person but incurred no fault,' always deferring to Lian Po, 'if a horse is lost, do not pursue it,' not contending with him. Some said he feared Lian Po, but he said, 'The reason I do this is that I prioritize the nation's urgency over private enmity' – this was the gentle method of 'biting tender meat.' When Lian Po heard this, he 'met a worthy man, mutually trusting,' and sincerely interacted, coming to apologize with thorns on his back. 'No good in the beginning, but a good end' – what began as opposition eventually became reconciliation. The two became close friends, 'encountering rain brings auspiciousness' – Yin and Yang harmonized. This is precisely the wisdom of K'uei: facing disagreements without fierce contention, 'unity despite differences' for greater harmony, transforming people with virtue, communicating sincerely, and ultimately turning conflict into friendship.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the K'uei hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: