Hexagram 63 as yes or no
Hexagram 63 Already Crossed as a yes-or-no answer
As an answer to a yes-or-no question Ji Ji says the matter is essentially settled, and the real question is what comes after. Its Judgment is favourable in small things, which means: yes to consolidating, maintaining and finishing details; no to using the completed state as a launching pad for something larger. Its own warning, good fortune at the beginning and disorder at the end, answers any 'should I keep going?': as far as the crossing, not beyond.
The changing lines fix the stage. In the lower trigram the order is new: line one says stop here, yes to the thing done and no to the next push; line two says do not chase what is missing, wait; line three says the remaining big task is possible but exhausting, a yes only with a long budget. In the upper trigram the order is at its height: line four says proceed with constant checking; line five says yes to the sincere small version and no to the grand one; the top line says you are in over your head, so withdraw.
The hexagram in brief
Water over fire, every line in its proper place: completion. Success in small matters; favourable to persevere — good at the start, disorder at the end if you relax.
The task is done; now guard it: fix small faults early, and think of trouble while things go well.
The judgment
既濟：亨，小利貞，初吉終亂。Kî Žî intimates progress and success in small matters. There will be advantage in being firm and correct. There has been good fortune in the beginning; there may be disorder in the end.
Which line changed?
A changing line sharpens the answer. Each line of 既濟 Already Crossed has its own page:
- 初九Nine at the beginningbraking the wheel · wet tail · restraint at the start
- 六二Six in the second placelost carriage screen · do not chase · seven days
- 九三Nine in the third placethe long campaign · three years · exhaustion
- 六四Six in the fourth placerags for the leak · all-day vigilance · doubt
- 九五Nine in the fifth placeeast and west neighbours · the lavish and the sincere · timing
- 上六Six at the tophead under water · peril · cannot last
The same hexagram for
Questions
- Does hexagram 63, Already Crossed, mean yes or no?
- As an answer to a yes-or-no question Ji Ji says the matter is essentially settled, and the real question is what comes after. Its Judgment is favourable in small things, which means: yes to consolidating, maintaining and finishing details; no to using the completed state as a launching pad for something larger. Its own warning, good fortune at the beginning and disorder at the end, answers any 'should I keep going?': as far as the crossing, not beyond.
- What does Hexagram 63, 既濟 Already Crossed, mean?
- Water over fire, every line in its proper place: completion. Success in small matters; favourable to persevere — good at the start, disorder at the end if you relax.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).