Hexagram 40, line 5
六五Line 5 of Release
Six in the fifth place · 解 xiè
爻辭 The line text
君子維有解，吉；有孚于小人。The fifth line, divided, shows (its subject), the superior man (= the ruler), executing his function of removing (whatever is injurious to the idea of the hexagram), in which case there will be good fortune, and confidence in him will be shown even by the small men.
君子有解，小人退也。When 'the superior man executes his function of removing (whatever is injurious to the idea of the hexagram),' small men will of themselves retire.
In plain words
The superior person alone can untie; good fortune; even the small people will show trust. Line five is the ruler of Xie, yin in the yang ruler's place but central, with the firm line at two answering it. 維 is 'only' or 'alone': the release that the hexagram is named for is the ruler's act, and it consists in disengaging — from the lesser lines, from old entanglements — rather than in punishing. The small Image gives the result: 'when the superior person unties, the small people retire' (小人退). They are not driven out; the ruler's clear disengagement makes their position untenable, and they go, convinced.
If this line is changing
Disentangle yourself cleanly and visibly from what has been holding the situation back, without vindictiveness; the people who were part of the problem will withdraw of their own accord when they see you mean it.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
- It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
- It belongs to the upper trigram 震 Zhen (the Arousing) (thunder).
- It corresponds (應) with line 2: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
解 Release becomes ䷮ 47 困 Confinement
A lake with no water in it: exhaustion. Success is still possible for the great person who stays correct — words are not believed now, so prove yourself by steadiness.
What it becomes47 · 困 ConfinementkùnThe six lines of 解 Release
- 初六Six at the beginningno fault · where hard meets soft · simply rest
- 九二Nine in the second placethree foxes · the yellow arrow · the straight middle way
- 六三Six in the third placea porter in a carriage · inviting robbers · self-inflicted
- 九四Nine in the fourth placerelease your toe · letting go of the unworthy · friends come
- 六五Six in the fifth placethe superior person unties · small people withdraw · trust shown
- 上六Six at the topshooting the hawk · the high wall · removing the last rebel
Read 解 Release for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the fifth place of hexagram 40, Release, mean?
- The superior person alone can untie; good fortune; even the small people will show trust. Line five is the ruler of Xie, yin in the yang ruler's place but central, with the firm line at two answering it. 維 is 'only' or 'alone': the release that the hexagram is named for is the ruler's act, and it consists in disengaging — from the lesser lines, from old entanglements — rather than in punishing. The small Image gives the result: 'when the superior person unties, the small people retire' (小人退). They are not driven out; the ruler's clear disengagement makes their position untenable, and they go, convinced.
- What does hexagram 40 become when line 5 changes?
- Release becomes hexagram 47, 困 Confinement: A lake with no water in it: exhaustion. Success is still possible for the great person who stays correct — words are not believed now, so prove yourself by steadiness.
- Is line 5 of Release in its correct place?
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).