Hexagram 24. Return (復 Fù)

Trigrams

Above

☷ Kūn (Earth) — 地 · Receptive

Below

☳ Zhèn (Thunder) — 雷 · Arousing

Symbolic Meaning

復 (Fù) describes a return to origin after decline. It is the reappearance of movement at the base, marking the beginning of a new cycle.

Judgment

Original Chinese:
復，亨，出入无疾，朋來无咎。反復其道，七日來復，利有攸往。
(Fù, hēng, chū rù wú jí, péng lái wú jiù. Fǎn fù qí dào, qī rì lái fù, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)

"Return. Origin and smooth progress. Movement in and out without harm. Companions return: no error. The course turns back on itself; after seven days, return occurs. It is favorable to proceed."

After decline reaches its limit, movement begins again at the base. This return is not forced—it follows a natural cycle.

Because it aligns with the underlying pattern, movement is now possible again. What was lost begins to re-emerge.

Image

Original Chinese:
雷在地中，復。先王以至日閉關，商旅不行，后不省方。
(Léi zài dì zhōng, fù. Xiān wáng yǐ zhì rì bì guān, shāng lǚ bù xíng, hòu bù xǐng fāng.)

"Thunder stirs within the earth: return. The superior person closes the passes and restrains movement at the turning point."

The returning force is still contained below the surface. It has not yet emerged fully.

At this stage, external movement is limited. The return must complete internally before outward expansion resumes.

Line 1

Original Chinese:
不遠復，无祗悔，元吉。
(Bù yuǎn fù, wú zhī huǐ, yuán jí.)

"Returning from not far. No regret. Primary favorable outcome."

Deviation is minimal and quickly corrected. The return occurs early.

Because alignment is restored immediately, the outcome is highly favorable.

Line 2

Original Chinese:
休復，吉。
(Xiū fù, jí.)

"Resting return. Favorable outcome."

Return occurs calmly and without force. It settles naturally into place.

Because it is unstrained, it proceeds without error.

Line 3

Original Chinese:
頻復，厲无咎。
(Pín fù, lì wú jiù.)

"Repeated returning. Risk present, no error."

There is instability—movement away and back again.

Though not ideal, continued returning prevents lasting error.

Line 4

Original Chinese:
中行獨復。
(Zhōng xíng dú fù.)

"Moving in the center, returning alone."

Return is aligned with the central path, but not supported by others.

Correct alignment is maintained independently.

Line 5

Original Chinese:
敦復，无悔。
(Dūn fù, wú huǐ.)

"Grounded return. No regret."

Return is stable, sincere, and fully integrated.

Because it is complete and well-founded, no regret remains.

Line 6

Original Chinese:
迷復，凶，有災眚。用行師，終有大敗，以其國君凶，至于十年不克征。
(Mí fù, xiōng, yǒu zāi shěng. Yòng xíng shī, zhōng yǒu dà bài, yǐ qí guó jūn xiōng, zhì yú shí nián bù kè zhēng.)

"Losing the return. Unfavorable outcome. There is damage and error. Acting with force leads to defeat. For ten cycles, recovery cannot be achieved."

The opportunity to return is missed. Movement continues in the wrong direction.

Attempting to force action in this condition leads to significant failure and prolonged disruption.