38. Kui | Opposition
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
睽：小事吉。
English translation
Kui / Opposition: Small undertakings are favorable.
This is the judgment of Kui (Opposition), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
Original Chinese text
初九：悔亡，丧马勿逐，自复。见恶人，无咎。
English translation
First Nine: Regret is gone. If a horse is lost, do not pursue it; recovery returns on its own. Meeting evil people brings no blame.
The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.
Original Chinese text
九二：遇主于巷，无咎。
English translation
Second Nine: One meets the master in the alley, and there is no blame.
The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.
Original Chinese text
六三：见舆曳，其牛掣，其人天且劓，无初有终。
English translation
Third Six: A cart is seen being dragged, an ox pulled aside, and a man marked and mutilated appears. Things are not smooth at first, but they do come to a conclusion.
The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.
Original Chinese text
九四：睽孤，遇元夫，交孚，厉无咎。
English translation
Fourth Nine: In this isolated opposition, one meets a true lord and mutual trust is formed. There is danger, yet no blame.
The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “danger” calls for vigilance.
Original Chinese text
六五：悔亡。厥宗噬肤，往何咎。
English translation
Fifth Six: Regret disappears. Even if one is gnawed at by kin, there is no harm in moving forward.
The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.
Original Chinese text
上九：睽孤，见豕负涂，载鬼一车。先张之弧，后说之弧，匪寇，婚媾。往，遇雨则吉。
English translation
Top Nine: At the outermost point of opposition, one sees a boar carrying mud and a cart of spirits. The bow is first drawn then released; this is not a raid but a marriage alliance. If one goes out and encounters rain, it is auspicious.
The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.