ChineseStudy

63. Ji Ji | After Completion

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English translation

Ji Ji / After Completion: Completion is present but only in a limited way. Perseverance is good; good appears first, while disorder comes in the end.

This is the judgment of Ji Ji (After Completion), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

First Nine: dragging back the wheel, its tail gets wet, 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.

Second Six: A woman loses her kerchief or headcloth. Do not pursue; it will be recovered in seven days.

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.

Third Nine: King Gao conquers the Guifang after three years of campaign. People of low character should not be put to use.

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.

Fourth Six: There is a torn cloth with ragged fringes. This calls for continual vigilance throughout the day.

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.

Fifth Nine: The neighbor to the east slaughters an ox, but this does not match the western neighbor's proper sacrificial rite. True blessing is in the latter.

The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

Top Six: The head becomes wet; danger is present. Caution is required.

The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “danger” calls for vigilance.

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