54. Kuei Mei

	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.