无妄
Hexagram #25
Wú Wàng

Innocence

"Thunder rolls under heaven. If you are not right, you will meet with misfortune."

Upper Trigram
Heaven ()
Lower Trigram
Mountain ()

The Judgment

Innocence. Supreme success. Perseverance furthers. If someone is not as he should be, he has misfortune, and it does not further him to undertake anything.

Original Text

元亨利贞。其匪正有眚,不利有攸往。

The Image

Under heaven thunder rolls: All things attain the natural state of innocence. Thus the ancient kings, rich in virtue, and in harmony with the time, fostered and nourished all beings.

Original Text

天下雷行,物与无妄;先王以茂对时,育万物。

Interpretation

The Lines

Line 1

Nine at the Beginning初九

"Innocent behavior brings good fortune."

Follow your intuition and act without guile.

Original: 无妄,往吉。

Line 2

Six at the Place 2六二

"If one does not count on the harvest while plowing, nor on the use of the ground while clearing it, it furthers one to undertake something."

Do the work for its own sake, not just for the reward.

Original: 不耕获,不菑畲,则利有攸往。

Line 3

Six at the Place 3六三

"Undeserved misfortune. The cow that was tethered by someone is the wanderer's gain, the citizen's loss."

Bad luck happens. Do not blame yourself for things out of your control.

Original: 无妄之灾,或系之牛,行人之得,邑人之灾。

Line 4

Nine at the Place 4九四

"He who can be persevering remains without blame."

Hold fast to your integrity. No one can fault you.

Original: 可贞,无咎。

Line 5

Nine at the Place 5九五

"Medicine not needed for an illness incurred through no fault of one's own. It will pass of itself."

Let nature take its course. Do not overreact to problems.

Original: 无妄之疾,勿药有喜。

Line 6

Nine at the Top上九

"Innocent action brings misfortune. Nothing furthers."

Even innocent action can be ill-timed. Stay still.

Original: 无妄,行有眚,无攸利。