Hexagram 43
Breakthrough
夬
Upper
Lake · 兌
the joyous, open
Lower
Heaven · 乾
the creative, strong
Contemporary judgment
Breakthrough. What has long been building comes to a head. The situation calls for open, truthful speech and resolute action, but without aggression. A breakthrough won through righteousness endures; one won through rage collapses into new conflict.
Image
The lake rising to the heavens. The superior person shares resources with those below and avoids building up private stores.
Counsel
Speak the truth now, plainly and in the open. Do not scheme, and do not posture. Your strength comes from the clarity and sincerity of your position, not from the force of your voice. Be resolved, not vengeful. Act, and then let the action stand on its own.
The six lines
Numbered from the bottom upward; displayed here from first to sixth.
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means: Powerful in the forward-striving toes. If one goes and is not equal to the matter, one makes a mistake.
Line 2
A nine in the second place means: Alarm cry. Evening and night weapons. Fear nothing.
Line 3
A nine in the third place means: To be powerful in the cheekbones brings misfortune. The noble one is firmly resolved. They walk alone and come into the rain. They are spattered, and people murmur against them. No blame.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means: On the thighs there is no skin, and walking comes hard. If one let oneself be led like a sheep, remorse would vanish. But if one hears these words, one will not believe them.
Line 5
A nine in the fifth place means: In dealing with weeds, firm resoluteness is needed. To walk in the middle remains free of blame.
Line 6
A six at the top means: No call! Misfortune comes in the end.
Contemporary sections are original app interpretations. Line text comes from the CC0 translation in jesshewitt/i-ching.