Hexagram 25. Without Contrivance (無妄 Wú Wàng)
Trigrams
- Above
- ☰ Qián (Heaven) — 天 · Creative
- Below
- ☳ Zhèn (Thunder) — 雷 · Arousing
Symbolic Meaning
無妄 (Wú Wàng) describes action that arises without contrivance. It is movement aligned with what is real, not shaped by intention, projection, or manipulation.
Judgment
Original Chinese:
無妄，元亨，利貞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。
(Wú wàng, yuán hēng, lì zhēn. Qí fěi zhèng yǒu shěng, bù lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)
"Without contrivance. Origin and smooth progress. It is favorable to remain correctly aligned. If not correct, there is harm. It is not favorable to move with direction."
Action arises directly from the underlying order. When aligned, movement is clear and effective.
If action is driven by distortion or false intent, it leads to error. In such a condition, proceeding only increases harm.
Image
Original Chinese:
天下雷行，物與无妄。先王以茂對時育萬物。
(Tiān xià léi xíng, wù yǔ wú wàng. Xiān wáng yǐ mào duì shí yù wàn wù.)
"Thunder moves beneath heaven: without contrivance. The prior governing system responded fully to the seasons and nourished all things."
Thunder initiates movement; heaven provides overarching order. Together they produce action that is direct and uncontrived.
When aligned with conditions, development occurs naturally, without forcing or manipulation.
Line 1
Original Chinese:
無妄，往吉。
(Wú wàng, wǎng jí.)
"Without distortion. Moving forward brings favorable outcome."
Action is fully aligned. There is no interference from false intent.
Because of this, movement proceeds cleanly and produces a favorable outcome.
Line 2
Original Chinese:
不耕获，不菑畬，则利有攸往。
(Bù gēng huò, bù zī yú, zé lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)
"Without cultivating, there is harvest. Without preparing, there is use. It is favorable to move with direction."
Results arise without artificial effort. This does not mean inaction, but alignment with what already exists.
When conditions are correct, outcomes follow naturally, without forcing.
Line 3
Original Chinese:
无妄之災，或系之牛，行人之得，邑人之災。
(Wú wàng zhī zāi, huò xì zhī niú, xíng rén zhī dé, yì rén zhī zāi.)
"Unintended unfavorable outcome. A tethered animal is taken by a passerby; the passerby gains, the community loses."
Events occur without intention, yet consequences still arise. Outcomes are not always aligned with fairness.
Even without distortion, external conditions can produce imbalance.
Line 4
Original Chinese:
可貞，无咎。
(Kě zhēn, wú jiù.)
"It is possible to remain correctly aligned. No error."
Despite surrounding conditions, alignment can still be maintained.
Holding to what is correct prevents error.
Line 5
Original Chinese:
无妄之疾，勿藥有喜。
(Wú wàng zhī jí, wù yào yǒu xǐ.)
"An uncaused affliction. Do not intervene; there is resolution."
The disturbance arises without clear cause. Attempting to force a solution may worsen it.
Left alone, it resolves naturally.
Line 6
Original Chinese:
无妄，行有眚，无攸利。
(Wú wàng, xíng yǒu shěng, wú yōu lì.)
"Without distortion, yet acting brings an unfavorable outcome. No direction is favorable."
Even when free of false intent, conditions may not support action.
In such a case, movement itself creates error. Restraint is required.