Hexagram 63 of 64
既济 jì jì
After Completion
坎 (kǎn, Water) above · 离 (lí, Fire) below
The Judgment 卦辞
The thing is done — everything in its right place, like fire and water cooperating. Now the work is maintenance: cross carefully, mind the small slippage.
The Image 大象
Water over fire: after completion. The wise person thinks of danger, and guards against it in times of peace.
The six lines 爻辞
Each line of 既济 has its own classical text. If a line in your cast is changing, its text is the heart of your reading.
Line 1 · 初九
Dragging the wheel, wetting the tail — carefully, slowly across. No blame in restraint at the finish.
「曳其轮，濡其尾，无咎」
Line 2 · 六二
The lady loses her veil. Do not chase it — in seven days it returns.
「妇丧其茀，勿逐，七日得」
Line 3 · 九三
The emperor subdued the Demon Country — three years to win it. Do not employ the petty in what follows.
「高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用」
Line 4 · 六四
Rags ready for the leaking boat — wary all day long. Completion demands standing guard.
「濡有衣袽，终日戒」
Line 5 · 九五
The eastern neighbor slaughters an ox; the western neighbor's modest offering receives the blessing. Sincerity outdoes splendor.
「东邻杀牛，不如西邻之禴祭，实受其福」
Line 6 · 上六
The head goes under the water. Crossing carelessly at the end — danger.
「濡其首，厉」
If you drew this in a reading
A favorable pattern. Among the sixty-four patterns, this one belongs to the favorable family: its core movement supports what you would do with it. Favorable does not mean automatic — the hexagram still asks you to hold up your end with steadiness and good faith.
In yes/no questions this hexagram leans yes — the pattern supports proceeding.
The trigrams give the flavor: 坎 (Water) above — the abysmal — depth, danger, flow through difficulty — over 离 (Fire) below — clarity and clinging — insight, illumination, dependence on fuel. Where those two energies meet, 既济 is born.
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