Hexagram 25, Wú Wàng (Innocence): Line 1

无妄卦初九 · 天雷无妄 · 中文版

初九:无妄,往吉。

The line (Legge)

The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject free from all insincerity. His advance will be accompanied with good fortune.

Small Image commentary

When 'he who is free from insincerity makes any movement,' he will get what he desires.

象曰:无妄之往,得志也。

In plain words

Without falseness, going on brings good fortune. "Without falseness" means being genuine and free of improper wishes. The first line is strong and low, the ruler of the lower trigram, moving honestly. The Small Image says it achieves its aim.

Applying it to your situation

If you are about to start something, this line suggests doing it sincerely, without hidden motives. Is your reason for doing this simple enough?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the first place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is in its proper place. Its partner is line 4; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Wú Wàng changes into Hexagram 12 Pǐ (Standstill). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·无妄之否.

The hexagram

Hexagram 25 Wú Wàng (Innocence). The Judgment: Wu Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.

Next: Line 2

English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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