Hexagram 43 of 64
夬
Break-through
Guài
Upper Trigram
兌
Lake
Joyous, Open
Lake · Youngest Daughter
Lower Trigram
乾
Heaven
Creative, Strong
Sky · Father
The Judgment
Break-through. One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king. It must be announced truthfully. Danger. It is necessary to notify one's own city. It does not further to resort to arms. It furthers to undertake something.
One yin line at the top, five yang lines below — the inferior is about to be overcome. But the victory must be won through righteous public announcement, not private scheming or force. Expose the wrong openly, stand firm, and proceed.
The Image
The lake has risen up to heaven — the image of Break-through. Thus the superior person distributes riches downward and refrains from resting on virtue.
Just as the lake's waters must eventually break forth, accumulated virtue must flow outward as generosity. Hoarding either leads to stagnation.
The Six Lines
Line 1
Mighty in the forward-striding toes. When one goes and is not equal to the task, one makes a mistake.
Bold forward movement without adequate preparation leads to error. Assess your actual readiness before advancing.
Line 2
A cry of alarm. Arms at evening and at night. Fear nothing.
Vigilance and readiness through the night — but not panic. The alarm is appropriate; the calm is also appropriate.
Line 3
To be powerful in the cheekbones brings misfortune. The superior person is firmly resolved. Walks alone and is caught in the rain. Is besmirched, but there is no blame.
The person of true resolve may be misunderstood and uncomfortable — but their integrity holds through any weather.
Line 4
There is no skin on the thighs, and walking comes hard. If one were to let oneself be led like a sheep, remorse would disappear. But if these words are heard, they will not be believed.
Moving forward with great difficulty because the inferior element within one's own character has not been fully removed.
Line 5
In dealing with weeds, firm resolution is necessary. Walking in the middle remains free of blame.
Dealing with persistent inferior elements requires sustained resolution, not periodic effort. The middle way — firm but not fanatical.
Line 6
No cry. In the end misfortune comes.
The single remaining inferior element appears negligible — no alarm is raised. But leaving even a small root of darkness unchecked brings final misfortune.
For contemplation and self-reflection only. Not a substitute for professional advice.