38. Opposition (睽 Kuí)

Trigrams

Above

☲ Lí (Fire)

Below

☱ Dùi (Lake)

Symbolic Meaning

睽 (Kuí) represents opposition or divergence. This hexagram speaks of differences between people or situations, where opposing forces or viewpoints lead to tension. Success comes from recognizing and managing these differences.

Judgment

Original Chinese:
"睽，小事吉。"
(Kuí, xiǎo shì jí.)

"Opposition. Small matters bring good fortune."

This hexagram advises focusing on small matters and resolving them carefully during times of opposition. Success comes from managing differences and not letting minor conflicts escalate into major problems.

Image

Original Chinese:
"上火下澤，睽。君子以同而異。"
(Shàng huǒ xià zé, kuí. Jūn zǐ yǐ tóng ér yì.)

"Fire above, the lake below: The image of Opposition. The superior person seeks unity in diversity."

The image of fire above and the lake below represents two opposing forces. The superior person seeks to find harmony within these differences, recognizing that unity can be found even in diversity.

Line 1

Original Chinese:
"悔亡，喪馬，勿逐，自復；見惡人，无咎。"
(Huǐ wáng, sàng mǎ, wù zhú, zì fù; jiàn è rén, wú jiù.)

"Regret disappears. Losing the horse, do not chase it; it will return on its own. Seeing an evil person, there is no blame."

This line advises patience in the face of loss or opposition. By not chasing after what is lost, it will return on its own. Encountering negative people brings no harm if one remains centered and does not engage.

Line 2

Original Chinese:
"遇主于巷，无咎。"
(Yù zhǔ yú xiàng, wú jiù.)

"Meeting the leader in an alley. No blame."

This line describes an unexpected encounter with someone of authority or importance. It advises not to worry, as this meeting brings no harm. The situation is neutral and offers no danger.

Line 3

Original Chinese:
"見輿曳，其牛掣，其人天且劓，无初有終。"
(Jiàn yú yè, qí niú chè, qí rén tiān qiě yì, wú chū yǒu zhōng.)

"Seeing a cart being dragged, the ox is pulling back, the person is cut off and their nose is cut. No beginning, but an end."

This line describes a difficult and unpleasant situation, where things are not going as planned. The person is struggling and faces punishment, but the situation resolves itself over time. It advises patience, as the end is better than the beginning.

Line 4

Original Chinese:
"睽孤，遇元夫，交孚，厲，无咎。"
(Kuí gū, yù yuán fū, jiāo fú, lì, wú jiù.)

"Opposition leads to isolation. Meeting a great person, trust develops. Danger, but no blame."

This line describes the isolation that comes from opposition, but a meeting with a wise or great person brings trust and understanding. Although there is some danger, it can be navigated without blame.

Line 5

Original Chinese:
"悔亡，厥宗噬膚，往何咎？"
(Huǐ wáng, jué zōng shì fū, wǎng hé jiù?)

"Regret disappears. The ancestor bites through the skin. Going forward brings no blame."

This line describes the resolution of past regrets. The ancestor biting through the skin represents the removal of a superficial problem, allowing for healing. Moving forward brings no blame, as the issue has been resolved.

Line 6

Original Chinese:
"睽孤見豕負塗，載鬼一車，先張之弧，後説之弧，匪寇婚媾，往遇雨則吉。"
(Kuí gū jiàn shǐ fù tú, zài guǐ yī chē, xiān zhāng zhī hú, hòu shuō zhī hú, fěi kòu hūn gòu, wǎng yù yǔ zé jí.)

"In opposition, one sees a pig covered with mud, a cart loaded with ghosts. First, the bow is drawn, then put down. This is not a bandit but a suitor. Going forward and meeting with rain brings good fortune."

This line describes a strange and unsettling situation, but it is not as dangerous as it appears. What seems threatening (a pig and ghosts) is actually benign (a suitor). Moving forward with confidence and encountering 'rain' (a symbol of blessings) brings good fortune.