䷧ Giải xiè
Core Meaning
The Giải hexagram reveals the wisdom of resolving difficulties. Difficulties do not last forever; seizing the opportunity can lead to liberation. The Giải hexagram emphasizes: when just resolved, don't rush into many things, 'Initial six: no blame' means stability is good; to remove hidden dangers, 'hunting three foxes' means clearing out petty people to find the right path; if one is not in the right position, trouble will come, 'carrying a burden and riding in a carriage invokes bandits' means if one's ability is insufficient, one should stick to one's duties; to resolve bad relationships, 'untie your thumb' means distancing oneself from petty people allows friends to come; a junzi has the ability to resolve difficulties, 'a junzi has the means to resolve' means conquering people with virtue; decisively eliminate harm without mercy, 'the duke shoots a hawk' means eliminating dangers in one swift action. The wisdom of the Giải hexagram lies in: seizing the opportunity to resolve difficulties, clearing hidden dangers without leaving future troubles, forgiving others with virtue, and returning to the right path after resolution. In modern society, contradictions are many, and the spirit of the Giải hexagram is even more needed: resolving contradictions, forgiving others, and seizing opportunities to get out of difficulties.
The Judgment
It is beneficial to go southwest. If there is no destination, returning is auspicious. If there is a destination, going early is auspicious.
Interpretation:
The hexagram Giải signifies resolving difficulties. It is beneficial to go southwest, to flat ground. If there is no urgency, staying put is auspicious; if there is trouble, resolving it quickly is auspicious. Thunder and rain cleanse the world, and dangers are eliminated; spring thunder awakens all things to sprout.
The Image
Thunder and rain rise, Giải; a junzi (noble person) pardons mistakes and forgives crimes.
Structure
The hexagram Giải has Kǎn (Water) below and Zhèn (Thunder) above, forming the image of Thunder over Water, Giải. Spring thunder rumbles, ice and snow melt, hibernating insects awaken, and all things sprout, which is the scene of 'Giải'. The lower trigram Kǎn represents danger, and the upper trigram Zhèn represents movement. Moving out of danger, moving to avoid danger, difficulties are resolved. Giải is opposite to Jiǎn (Obstruction); Jiǎn is falling into difficulty, Giải is getting out of difficulty. 'Thunder and rain rise, Giải', like spring thunder and rain cleansing the world and removing impurities. The hexagram Giải is not only about resolving difficulties but also about forgiveness, 'pardoning mistakes and forgiving crimes', giving people a new chance. The hexagram Giải tells us: difficulties will eventually pass, seize the opportunity to resolve them; forgiving others is also liberating oneself; after resolving, return to the right path.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial six: No blame.
Nine two: Hunting three foxes, obtaining a yellow arrow, firm and auspicious.
Six three: Carrying a burden and riding in a carriage, inviting bandits, firm and regrettable.
Nine four: Untie your thumb, and friends will trust you.
Six five: A junzi (noble person) has the means to resolve, auspicious; there is trust even among common people.
Top six: The duke shoots a hawk, on top of a high wall, captures it, nothing is unfavorable.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
In career, resolving difficulties requires seizing opportunities. 'Danger with movement' means being cautious when just out of trouble; 'Initial six: no blame' means stabilizing first. Clear hidden dangers, 'hunting three foxes' means thoroughly solving underlying problems, 'obtaining a yellow arrow' means adhering to integrity. The worst fear is ability not matching the position; 'carrying a burden and riding in a carriage' indicates that a petty person in a high position will invite trouble, so one must stick to one's duties. To terminate bad collaborations, 'untie your thumb' means detaching from those who hold one back, and sincere partners will come. Capable individuals must take responsibility, 'a junzi has the means to resolve' means using virtue to resolve crises, even gaining the trust of common people. For those who are harmful, be decisive, 'the duke shoots a hawk' means eliminating them in one move with no disadvantage. After resolving, 'pardon mistakes and forgive crimes', giving offenders a chance to correct, but don't compromise on principles.
❤️ Relationships
In relationships, resolving difficulties requires rational handling. When conflicts are just resolved, don't rush into things, 'no blame' means giving each other space to calm down. Address underlying issues, 'hunting three foxes' means thoroughly communicating and resolving hidden dangers, 'obtaining a yellow arrow' means adhering to sincerity. If incompatible, do not force it; 'carrying a burden and riding in a carriage' means that mismatched conditions will inevitably lead to problems, so it's better to face it honestly. To break unhealthy relationships, 'untie your thumb' means getting rid of enmeshed people, and a genuine person will appear. A wise person can resolve crises, 'a junzi has the means to resolve' means resolving conflicts with tolerance. For those who are truly unsuitable, be decisive, 'the duke shoots a hawk' means not dragging things out. After resolving, forgive, 'pardon mistakes and forgive crimes' means pardoning the other's mistakes perhaps for a new chance, but not indulgence. After emotional liberation, 'returning is auspicious' means returning to a peaceful life.
🎯 Decision Making
When making decisions, seize the opportunity to resolve difficulties. 'The time of Giải is great!' The timing of resolution is very important. 'Beneficial to go southwest' means choosing a stable direction; 'if there is no destination, returning is auspicious' means being stable when there is no urgency; 'if there is a destination, going early is auspicious' means acting quickly when there is urgency. When just resolved, don't rush to achieve success, 'no blame' means stabilizing the situation first. Clear hidden dangers, 'hunting three foxes' means thoroughly solving problems. Don't overestimate your abilities, 'carrying a burden and riding in a carriage' means insufficient ability will invite trouble. Sever bad connections, 'untie your thumb' means cutting ties. Capable individuals should take responsibility, 'a junzi has the means to resolve' means resolving crises. Be decisive in eliminating harm, 'the duke shoots a hawk' means solving it in one swift action. After resolving, be magnanimous, 'pardon mistakes and forgive crimes' means giving people a chance to correct and build good relationships.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest warning of the Giải hexagram is that a misalignment of virtue and position will inevitably lead to disaster. 'Carrying a burden and riding in a carriage' is the most dangerous, as a petty person in a high position or someone with insufficient ability for a great task will inevitably invite calamity. This is not due to others' jealousy but 'self-inflicted harm.' 'Six three' warns: do not occupy an undeserved position; sticking to one's duties is paramount. 'Untie your thumb' reminds: be decisive in relationships that need to be resolved; dragging things out harms oneself and others. 'The duke shoots a hawk' admonishes: harm that needs to be eliminated must be dealt with thoroughly; indecisiveness leads to endless future troubles. Be vigilant: don't become complacent immediately after resolving a difficulty, don't occupy a high position if your virtue doesn't match, don't fail to cut off ties and suffer from chaos, and don't be soft-hearted and let a tiger return to the mountains. Remember: after resolving, 'pardon mistakes and forgive crimes' means forgiving others, but not condoning evil. True Giải is both resolving difficulties and forgiving, both decisive and benevolent.
Applicable Scenarios
The Giải hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
Zhao Jianzi pardoning Handan embodies the spirit of the Giải hexagram. Zhao Jianzi attacked Handan, but after a long siege, fell into the 'Jiǎn' (Obstruction) predicament. He 'moved out of danger' deciding to withdraw his troops to resolve the difficulty. After withdrawing, he 'hunted three foxes', removing several insidious advisors, and 'obtained a yellow arrow', reusing honest officials. He found that some people were 'carrying a burden and riding in a carriage', their virtue not matching their position, causing problems, and he decisively made adjustments. Most importantly, he 'pardoned mistakes and forgiven crimes', pardoning the crimes of Handan, and like 'thunder and rain rise, Giải', he turned conflict into goodwill. He, a 'junzi, has the means to resolve', and commanded respect with his virtue; the people of Handan, grateful for his benevolence, submitted to him. This was not weakness, but wisdom. For stubborn enemies, he was as decisive as 'the duke shoots a hawk' in eliminating them. This is precisely the wisdom of the Giải hexagram: decisively脫離困難 in difficult situations, being magnanimous after resolution, cutting off what needs to be cut, pardoning what needs to be pardoned, combining firmness with gentleness.
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 Giải 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: