Hexagram 43 as yes or no
Hexagram 43 Decisiveness as a yes-or-no answer
As an answer to a yes-or-no question Guai says yes to a decisive act — the judgment ends 'favourable to go somewhere' and the Tuan explains that when the strong have fully grown, the matter ends (剛長乃終). But the yes comes with the whole judgment's procedure attached: say it openly, acknowledge the danger, warn your own side, and do not use force. If the thing you are asking about can only be done by stealth or by coercion, the hexagram's answer is no.
A changing line in the lower trigram, Qian, mostly says 'not yet': line one cannot prevail, line two should stay alert rather than strike, and line three must act alone and inwardly while appearing to hold back. A changing line in the upper trigram, Dui, means the decision is in motion: line four says yes if you follow those ahead of you, line five says yes with doubled firmness, and the top line says the thing you are asking about is already finished — do not try to save it.
The hexagram in brief
The lake risen to heaven: the cloudburst about to fall. Five yang lines resolve to remove the last yin — declare it openly at court, stay alert, and don't rely on arms.
Be resolute and public about removing what is wrong, but without hatred or violence; strength that is also gentle wins.
The judgment
夬：揚于王庭，孚號，有厲，告自邑，不利即戎，利有攸往。Kwâi requires (in him who would fulfil its meaning) the exhibition (of the culprit's guilt) in the royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal (for sympathy and support), with a consciousness of the peril (involved in cutting off the criminal). He should (also) make announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms. (In this way) there will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to.
Which line changed?
A changing line sharpens the answer. Each line of 夬 Decisiveness has its own page:
- 初九Nine at the beginningstrength in the toes · advancing too soon · cannot prevail
- 九二Nine in the second placealarm cry · armed at night · no anxiety
- 九三Nine in the third placestrength in the face · walking alone · soaked but blameless
- 九四Nine in the fourth placeno skin on the buttocks · halting · hears but does not believe
- 九五Nine in the fifth placepurslane · resolute at the centre · not yet bright
- 上六Six at the topno one to call · the last yin · cannot last
The same hexagram for
Questions
- Does hexagram 43, Decisiveness, mean yes or no?
- As an answer to a yes-or-no question Guai says yes to a decisive act — the judgment ends 'favourable to go somewhere' and the Tuan explains that when the strong have fully grown, the matter ends (剛長乃終). But the yes comes with the whole judgment's procedure attached: say it openly, acknowledge the danger, warn your own side, and do not use force. If the thing you are asking about can only be done by stealth or by coercion, the hexagram's answer is no.
- What does Hexagram 43, 夬 Decisiveness, mean?
- The lake risen to heaven: the cloudburst about to fall. Five yang lines resolve to remove the last yin — declare it openly at court, stay alert, and don't rely on arms.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).