guī mèiAlso known as “The Marrying Maiden” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Kwei Mei” (Legge)
the marrying maidenunequal termssubordinate role
In plain words
Thunder over the lake: the younger sister married as a secondary wife. Undertakings bring misfortune; nothing is favourable — a relationship or position entered on unequal terms must be managed with great care.
The attitude it asks for
Know the limits of a subordinate role; keep your dignity, expect little, and don't force what the situation won't give.
Structure
Upper trigram☳震Zhen (the Arousing)雷 · thunder · Wood
By Kwei Mei (the marrying away of a younger sister) the great and righteous relation between heaven and earth (is suggested to us). If heaven and earth were to have no intercommunication, things would not grow and flourish as they do. The marriage of a younger sister is the end (of her maidenhood) and the beginning (of her motherhood).
We have (in the hexagram the desire of) pleasure and, on the ground of that, movement following. The marrying away is of a younger sister.
'Any action will be evil:'—the places (of the lines) are not those appropriate to them. 'It will be in no wise advantageous:'—the weak (third and fifth lines) are mounted on strong lines.
The Image
澤上有雷，歸妹；君子以永終知敝。
(The trigram representing the waters of) a marsh and over it that for thunder form Kwei Mei. The superior man, in accordance with this, having regard to the far-distant end, knows the mischief (that may be done at the beginning).
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
女承筐无實，士刲羊无血，无攸利。
The sixth line, divided, shows the young lady bearing the basket, but without anything in it, and the gentleman slaughtering the sheep, but without blood flowing from it. There will be no advantage in any way.
Its symbolism
上六无實，承虛筐也。
'(What is said in) the sixth line, divided, about there being nothing in the basket' shows that the subject of it is carrying an empty basket.
The fifth line, divided, reminds us of the marrying of the younger sister of (king) Tî-yî, when the sleeves of her the princess were not equal to those of the (still) younger sister who accompanied her in an inferior capacity. (The case suggests the thought of) the moon almost full. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
帝乙歸妹，不如其娣之袂良也。其位在中，以貴行也。
'The sleeves of the younger sister of (king) Tî-yî, when she was married away, were not equal to those of her (half-) sister, who accompanied her:'—such was her noble character, indicated by the central position of the line.
The fourth line, undivided, shows the younger sister who is to be married off protracting the time. She may be late in being married, but the time will come.
Its symbolism
愆期之志，有待而行也。
(The purpose in) 'protracting the time' is that, after waiting, the thing may be done (all the better).
The second line, undivided, shows her blind of one eye, and yet able to see. There will be advantage in her maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow.
Its symbolism
利幽人之貞，未變常也。
'There will be advantage in maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow:'—(the subject of the line) has not changed from the constancy (proper to a wife).
The first line, undivided, shows the younger sister married off in a position ancillary to the real wife. (It suggests the idea of) a person lame on one leg who yet manages to tramp along. Going forward will be fortunate.
Its symbolism
歸妹以娣，以恆也。跛能履吉，相承也。
'The younger sister is married off in a position ancillary to that of the real wife:'—it is the constant practice (for such a case). 'Lame on one leg, she is able to tramp along:'—she can render helpful service.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 54, Marrying the Younger Sister, mean?
Thunder over the lake: the younger sister married as a secondary wife. Undertakings bring misfortune; nothing is favourable — a relationship or position entered on unequal terms must be managed with great care.
Which trigrams form Marrying the Younger Sister?
震 above 兌 — thunder over lake. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 既濟 Already Crossed.
What happens when a line of Marrying the Younger Sister changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Marrying the Younger Sister in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — — - - — - - - - is Marrying the Younger Sister. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.