Hexagram 48 · ䷯

The Well

井 · Jǐng

Upper Water 坎Lower Wind 巽

The Judgment · 卦辭

改邑不改井，无喪无得，往來井井。汔至亦未繘井。羸其瓶，凶。

(Looking at) Žing, (we think of) how (the site of) a town may be changed, while (the fashion of) its wells undergoes no change. (The water of a well) never disappears and never receives (any great) increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit. If (the drawing) have nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water, the bucket is broken, this is evil.

The Image · 大象

木上有水，井；君子以勞民勸相。

(The trigram representing) wood and above it that for water form Žing. The superior man, in accordance with this, comforts the people, and. stimulates them to mutual helpfulness.

Plain-English Meaning

The well. A source that serves everyone; return to fundamentals and keep them in good repair.

The Judgment

The town may change, but the well stays the same; care for the source.

The Image

Like water drawn up by the wood, encourage people to work and help one another.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初六 · Line 1
井泥不食，舊井无禽。
The first SIX, divided, shows a well so muddy that men will not drink of it; or an old well to which neither birds (nor other creatures) resort.
象曰：井泥不食，下也。舊井无禽，時舍也。
九二 · Line 2
井谷射鮒，瓮敝漏。
The second NINE, undivided, shows a well from which by a hole the water escapes and flows away to the shrimps (and such small creatures among the grass), or one the water of which leaks away from a broken basket.
象曰：井谷射鮒，无與也。
九三 · Line 3
井渫不食，為我心惻，可用汲，王明，並受其福。
The third NINE, undivided, shows a well, which has been cleared out, but is not used. Our hearts are sorry for this, for the water might be drawn out and used. If the king were (only) intelligent, both he and we might receive the benefit of it.
象曰：井渫不食，行惻也。求王明，受福也。
六四 · Line 4
井甃，无咎。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows a well, the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error.
象曰：井甃无咎，修井也。
九五 · Line 5
井冽，寒泉食。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows a clear, limpid well, (the waters from) whose cold spring are (freely) drunk.
象曰：寒泉之食，中正也。
上六 · Line 6
井收勿幕，有孚元吉。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows (the water from) the well brought to the top, which is not allowed to be covered. This suggests the idea of sincerity. There will be great good fortune.
象曰：元吉在上，大成也。

English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.

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