The Marriageable Maiden
Upper Trigram:Chen, Thunderclap, Movement
Lower Trigram:Tui, Joy, a Lake
Governing Ruler:Six in the fifth place
Constitutional Rulers:Six in the third place
Top-most six

The Image
Thunder over the lake: the image of Kuei Mei. The superior man, in accordance with this, having regard to the far-distant end, knows the mischief that may be done at the beginning.

Miscellaneous Signs
Kuei Mei reveals how ends the virgin life; Wei Chi how fails the youth to get a wife.

The Judgement
Kuei Mei indicates that under the conditions it denotes, action will be evil, and in no way advantageous.

Commentary
In Kuei Mei the great and righteous relation between heaven and earth is suggested to us. If heaven and earth were to have no intercommunication, things would not grow and flourish as they do. The marriage of a younger sister is the end of her maidenhood, and the beginning of her motherhood. We have in the hexagram the desire of pleasure and, on the ground of that, movement following. The one given in marriage is a younger sister.
'Any action will be evil': the places of the lines are not those appropriate to them.
'It will be in no way advantageous': the weak lines are mounted on strong lines.

The Lines and commentaries
Bottom nine
Showing the younger sister married of in a position of a concubine. It suggests the idea of a person lame on one leg, who yet manages to tramp along. Going forward will be fortunate.
'The younger sister is married of in a position of a concubine': it is the constant practice in such a case.
Nine in the second place
Showing her blind of one eye, and yet able to see. There will be advantage in maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow.
'There will be advantage in maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow': the subject of the line has not changed from the constancy proper to a wife.
Six in the third place
Showing the younger sister, who was to be married off, in a position of slavery. She returns and accepts the position of a concubine.
'The younger sister, who was to be married off, is in a position of slavery': this is shown by the improprieties indicated in the line.
Nine in the fourth place
Showing the younger sister, who is to be married of, lengthening the time taken by it. She may be late in being married, but the time will come.
The purpose in 'lengthening the time taken by it', is that, after waiting, it may be done all the better.
Six in the fifth place
Reminiscent of the marrying of the younger sister of king I, when the sleeves of her, the princess, were not equal to those of the still younger sister who accompanied her in an inferior capacity. The case suggests the thought of the moon almost full. There will be good fortune.
'The sleeves of the princess were not equal to those of her half-sister, who accompanied her': such was her noble character, indicated by the central position of the line.
Top-most six
Showing the young lady bearing the basket, but without anything in it, and the gentleman slaughtering the sheep, but without blood flowing from it. There will be no advantage in any way.
The subject of this line is carrying an empty basket.



1. Ch'ien
Creative Principle

2. K'un
Passive Principle

3. Chun
Initial Difficulties

4. Meng
Youthful Inexperience

5. Hsü
Delay

6. Sung
Conflict

7. Shih
The Army

8. Pi
Seeking Unity

9. Hsiao Ch'u
Minor Restraint

10. Lü
Treading carefully

11. T'ai
Peace

12. P'i
Stagnation

13. T'ung Jen
Companionship

14. Ta Yu
Great Possessions

15. Ch'ien
Modesty

16. Yü
Enthusiasm

17. Sui
Allegiance

18. Ku
Arresting Decay

19. Lin
Approaching

20. Kuan
Contemplation

21. Shih Ho
Biting through

22. Pi
Grace

23. Po
Disintegration

24. Fu
The Turning Point

25. Wu Wang
Innocence

26. Ta Ch'u
Restraining Force

27. I
Nourishment

28. Ta Kuo
Excess

29. K'an
The Abyss

30. Li
Clinging Brightness

31. Hsieh
Influence

32. Heng
Endurance

33. Tun
Withdrawal

34. Ta Chuang
Strength of Greatness

35. Chin
Progress

36. Ming I
Sinking Light

37. Chia Jen
The Family

38. K'uei
Opposition

39. Chien
Obstacles

40. Hsieh
Deliverance

41. Sun
Decrease

42. I
Increase

43. Kuai
Resolution

44. Kou
Coming on

45. Ts'ui
Congregation

46. Sheng
Moving upward

47. K'un
Exhaustion

48. Ching
The Well

49. Ko
Revolution

50. Ting
The Cauldron

51. Chen
Thunderclap

52. Ken
Inaction

53. Chien
Gradual Progress

54. Kuei Mei
Marriageable Maiden

55. Feng
Abundance

56. Lü
The Wanderer

57. Sun
Gentle Penetration

58. Tui
Joy

59. Huan
Dispersal

60. Chien
Restraint

61. Cung Fu
Inner Truth

62. Hsiao Kuo
Small Excess

63. Chi Chi
Completion and After

64. Wei Chi
Before Completion