43. Guai | Breakthrough | Zhou Yi | English

夬（guài）：（）扬（yáng）于（yú）王（wáng）庭（tíng），（）孚（fú）号（hào）有（yǒu）厉（lì），（）告（gào）自（zì）邑（yì）。（）不（bù）利（lì）即（jí）戎（róng），（）利（lì）有（yǒu）攸（yōu）往（wǎng）。（）

Translation: 夬 / Breakthrough: 扬于王庭，孚号有danger; be vigilant，告自邑。不利即戎，it is beneficial to have somewhere to go。.

Reading note: This is the judgment of Guai (Breakthrough), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “having somewhere to go” means forward action is fitting; “danger” calls for vigilance.

初（chū）九（jiǔ）：（）壮（zhuàng）于（yú）前（qián）趾（zhǐ），（）往（wǎng）不（bù）胜（shèng）为（wèi）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: First Nine: Draft rendering: 壮于前趾，往不胜为咎。.

Reading note: The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

九（jiǔ）二（èr）：（）惕（tì）号（hào）莫（mò）夜（yè），（）有（yǒu）戎（róng），（）勿（wù）恤（xù）。（）

Translation: Second Nine: 惕号莫夜，有戎，do not worry。.

Reading note: The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

九（jiǔ）三（sān）：（）壮（zhuàng）于（yú）頄（kuí），（）有（yǒu）凶（xiōng）。（）君（jūn）子（zǐ）夬（guài）夬（guài）独（dú）行（xíng），（）遇（yù）雨（yǔ）若（ruò）濡（rú），（）有（yǒu）愠（yùn），（）无（wú）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: Third Nine: 壮于頄，有misfortune。君子夬夬独行，遇雨若濡，有愠，no blame。.

Reading note: The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “misfortune” marks serious risk.

九（jiǔ）四（sì）：（）臀（tún）无（wú）肤（fū），（）其（qí）行（xíng）次（cì）且（qiě），（）牵（qiān）羊（yáng）悔（huǐ）亡（wáng），（）闻（wén）言（yán）不（bù）信（xìn）。（）

Translation: Fourth Nine: 臀无肤，其行次且，牵羊regret disappears，闻言不信。.

Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.

九（jiǔ）五（wǔ）：（）苋（xiàn）陆（lù）夬（guài）夬（guài），（）中（zhōng）行（háng）无（wú）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: Fifth Nine: 苋陆夬夬，中行no blame。.

Reading note: The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.

上（shàng）六（liù）：（）无（wú）号（hào），（）终（zhōng）有（yǒu）凶（xiōng）。（）

Translation: Top Six: 无号，终有misfortune。.

Reading note: The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

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43. Guai | Breakthrough

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