54. Gui Mei | The Marrying Maiden
- Line 1 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 2 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 3 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 4 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 5 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 6 (from bottom): yin (broken)
归妹：征凶，无攸利。
Translation: 归妹 / The Marrying Maiden: 征misfortune，there is nowhere that brings advantage。.
Reading note: This is the judgment of Gui Mei (The Marrying Maiden), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. the warning against going forward suggests restraint rather than expansion; “misfortune” marks serious risk.
初九：归妹以娣，跛能履，征吉。
Translation: First Nine: 归妹以娣，跛能履，征auspicious。.
Reading note: The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
九二：眇能视，利幽人之贞。
Translation: Second Nine: Draft rendering: 眇能视，利幽人之贞。.
Reading note: The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time.
六三：归妹以须，反归以娣。
Translation: Third Six: Draft rendering: 归妹以须，反归以娣。.
Reading note: 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.
九四：归妹愆期，迟归有时。
Translation: Fourth Nine: Draft rendering: 归妹愆期，迟归有时。.
Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.
六五：帝乙归妹，其君之袂，不如其娣之袂良。月几望，吉。
Translation: Fifth Six: 帝乙归妹，其君之袂，不如其娣之袂良。the moon is nearly full，auspicious。.
Reading note: The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
上六：女承筐无实，士刲羊无血，无攸利。
Translation: Top Six: 女承筐无实，士刲羊无血，there is nowhere that brings advantage。.
Reading note: The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. the warning against going forward suggests restraint rather than expansion.