The Forest of Xian (the 64th hexagram Xian)

巽：怨重被燒，忿怒生禍。褊心作事，意如為亂。

Accumulated resentment leads to calamity from burning, and anger gives rise to misfortune; acting with a narrow mind and following one's temper brings about chaos. The phrase "褊心" comes from the "Book of Songs · Wei Wind · Ge Ju." This person harbors deep resentment and anger, has a narrow mind, and invites misfortune upon themselves, which is ominous.

兌：張狂妄行，竊食稻粱。狗吠非主，囓傷我足。

This person acts recklessly and without restraint, behaving improperly and stealing others' rice and millet; the dog barks at people who are not its master and even bites my foot. The owner of this forest has no self-restraint, covets small gains, and ends up suffering harm, which is ominous.

渙：驚蹕式道，先驅除咎。王后親桑，以率群功。安我祖宗。

The road was cleared and a strict guard was set, with the royal carriage proceeding for travel, the vanguard leading the way to remove calamities and misfortunes; the queen mother personally gathered mulberry leaves, to lead the people in the domestic arts. Thus, my ancestors' foundation was stabilized. When the Son of Heaven goes out on a military campaign and returns for rest, and the queen mother personally engages in sericulture, these are ancient rites. This forest's master has both superiors and inferiors each fulfilling their duties, internal and external affairs being carried out together, the ancestral temple is secure, and it is a great auspicious omen.

節：門戶乏食，困死誰告。對門不通，安所歸急。積藏五穀，一花千葉，市賈有息。

The family ran out of food, trapped and helpless, with no one to turn to; even the neighbors were unreachable, and in a desperate situation, where could one seek refuge? Later, they stored up five grains, a single flower blooming into thousands of leaves, and thus trade brought profit. This person first suffered from hunger and hardship without support, but later, through accumulation, turned to prosperity, and merchants gained profit. The situation first was凶 (adverse) and later became吉 (favorable).

中孚：破敝復完，危者得安。鄉善無損，商人有息。利來入門。

The situation turns from broken to intact, from dangerous to peaceful; with a sincere intention to do good, there is no loss, merchants gain interest, and wealth comes naturally. This indicates that the owner of the forest moves from ruin to recovery, from danger to safety, gains blessings through goodness, and business is prosperous, which is auspicious.

小過：迭迭累累，如岐之室。一息十子，古公治邑。

One after another, layer upon layer, like the houses of the Zhou family in Qishan, they are dense and continuous. A single birth gives rise to ten sons, and Gōng Dǎn father governed his city. Gōng Dǎn moved his residence to Qishan, marking the beginning of the Zhou dynasty. This forest signifies a solid foundation, numerous descendants, a flourishing family, and great auspiciousness.

既濟：三嫗治民，不勝其任。兩馬爭車，敗壞家室。

Three old women going to govern the people cannot bear such a responsibility; two horses fighting over a cart ruin the family. This indicates that the master of the forest is misusing people and there is internal strife, leading to the decline of the family's affairs, which is ominous.

未濟：蔽鏡無光，不見文章。少女不市，棄於相望。

A dusty mirror loses its brightness and cannot reflect patterns or brilliance; a young woman does not go to the market and is left aside, looking afar. This indicates a ruler of the forest whose clarity is obscured, talent buried, people neglected and abandoned, which is ominous.

遯：三塗五嶽，陽城太室。神明所住，獨無兵革。

San Tu Mountain and the Five Mountains, Yangcheng and Taishi Mountain, are all places where deities reside, and there is no warfare or strife. Taishi is the main peak of Song Mountain. This area is a place protected by divine spirits, where military calamities do not intrude, and it is very auspicious.

乾：軟弱無輔，不能自理。意在外野，心懷勞苦。雖憂不殆。

The person is weak and lacks support, unable to manage their own affairs. Their mind wanders in the wilderness, and their chest is full of toil. Although they are troubled, they are not in immediate danger. This hexagram indicates a state of isolation and weakness without assistance, with scattered thoughts and much worry, yet without serious harm.

坤：周成之隆，刑措無凶。大眾贊佑，君子作仁。

In the time of King Cheng of Zhou, the state was prosperous, punishments were suspended and there were no calamities; the people universally praised and supported him, and the virtuous rulers implemented benevolent governance. During the reigns of King Cheng and King Kang, punishments were not used for over forty years, as recorded in the "Records of the Grand Historian: The Annals of the Zhou Dynasty." This indicates that the current leader governs with clarity, harmony prevails, punishments are not applied, and the people's expectations are fulfilled, which is a great auspicious omen.

屯：穴有狐烏，坎生蝦蟆。象去萬里，不可得捕。

In a cave live foxes and crows, and in pits grow toads; yet the elephant has long since wandered ten thousand miles away, beyond reach. The ruler of this forest is surrounded by small things, while what he seeks is far away, escaping his grasp. His ambition is great but his strength is insufficient, which is not auspicious.

蒙：俱為天民，雲過吾面。治民嫉妒，與我無恩。（民一作門）

All people are born from heaven, yet the clouds pass only before me; those in charge hold jealous hearts and offer me no kindness. The character "民" is originally written as "门". This person is not favored by the ruler, is envied by others, isolated and without support, which is not auspicious.

需：三首六目，政多煩惑。皋陶瘖聾，亂不可從。

Three heads and six eyes, with numerous and confusing decrees; even the wise judge Yao could become mute and deaf, leaving chaos without order. Yao was the official in charge of punishment during the time of Yu Shun. This forest indicates multiple authorities, the virtuous unable to speak, disorder prevailing, and misfortune.

訟：德積不輕，辭王釣耕。三媒不已，大福來成。

He has accumulated great virtue and does not act lightly, declining the royal command to instead fish and till the land. Those who come to persuade him keep coming without ceasing, and great fortune is finally achieved. Li Shang fished by the Wei River, and Yi Yin plowed in You Shen, both were old stories of waiting for the right time to act. This person has accumulated virtue and lived in seclusion, and only after three invitations did he emerge, ultimately attaining great fortune and great auspiciousness.

師：堅固相親，日用自完。六體不易，孰為安全。雨師駕西，濡我轂輪。張伯李季，各噬關門。

Each party is firm and close, with daily expenses self-sufficient; the six limbs have not changed, so how can there be any question of safety or danger? The rain god drives westward, drenching my carriage wheels; Zhang Bo and Li Ji each guard the gate. Within this forest, the master is solid and self-sufficient. Although encountering rain and wind that block the way, and people each holding their own position, they can still protect themselves, maintaining a state of calm with some stagnation.

比：方內不行，輻摧輪傷。馬禁堤與，愛子閔時。

Within the territory, there is no way to proceed, the spokes are broken and the wheels are damaged; the horse is blocked by the embankment and cannot pass, while the beloved son can only grieve over the fate. This omen indicates damage to vehicles and horses, blocked paths, sorrow for the children, and is ominous.

小畜：畜牝無駒，養雞不雛。群羊三歲，不生兩頭。

He who keeps a mare but fails to produce foals, keeps chickens but fails to hatch chicks; a flock of sheep raised for three years adds not even two lambs. This indicates that the household has no success in breeding, no increase in livestock, no growth in children or wealth, which is ominous.

履：老耄罷極，無取中直。懸輿致仕，得歸鄉國。

When one is old and weak, exhausted to the extreme, and unable to act with proper balance and righteousness, they may hang up their carriage and retire from office, returning to their hometown. Hanging up the carriage to retire is a common expression among Han people when they resign due to old age. This master, having reached an advanced age and stepped down from his position, has achieved the appropriate limit of his accomplishments. Being able to return home safely is a fortunate omen of knowing when to stop.

泰：縮緒亂絲，手與為災。越畝逐兔，斷其褌襦。

Drawing out the tangled threads only entangles the hands further; crossing the field to chase a rabbit results in tearing the pants and short clothes. This oracle indicates confusion and disorder, pursuing small gains leads to loss of clothing, suffering in vain, and misfortune.

否：海老水乾，魚鱉蕭索。高落無澗，獨有沙石。

The great sea has aged and dried up, with fish and turtles scattered and diminished; high places have collapsed and no longer form streams or gullies, leaving only sand and stones. This indicates that the source has withered and the root has been exhausted, with all living things declining and having nowhere to rely on, which is a great misfortune.

同人：入市求鹿，不見頓足。終日至夜，竟無所得。

He went to the market to seek a deer but could not even find a hoofprint; he searched from day to night but ultimately found nothing. The master of this forest is seeking something that is not in its place, the direction is entirely wrong, laboring in vain, which is ominous.

大有：築門壅戶，虎臥當道。驚我驊騮，不利出處。

The gate is blocked and the door is sealed shut, with a tiger lying in the middle of the path; my fine horse is startled, making it unfavorable to go out or stay at home. The骅骝 is one of the eight famous horses of King Mu of Zhou. This indicates that the path ahead is obstructed, with fierce beasts blocking the way, making it unsuitable to advance or retreat, resulting in misfortune.

謙：陶朱白圭，善賈息資。公子王孫，富貴不貧。

Tao Zhu Gong Fan Li and Bai Gui were both skilled in business and made their capital multiply; thus, the sons of nobles became wealthy and did not fall into poverty. Fan Li thrice accumulated a fortune of a thousand gold pieces, and Bai Gui was good at observing the times and changes, as mentioned in the "Huo Zhi Lie Zhuan" of the "Shi Ji." This person is skilled in managing finances and making profits through commerce, leading to a wealthy household, which is a great auspicious omen.

豫：王良善御，伯樂知馬。周旋步驟，行中規矩。止息有前，延命壽考。

Wang Liang is skilled in driving, and Bo Le is skilled in appraising horses; the carriage and horses move smoothly, with proper pace and coordination in advancing and retreating, and their movements are regulated and orderly, thus leading to longevity. This person benefits from a good driver and a good horse appraiser, with proper conduct and actions, leading to smooth affairs and long life, which is very auspicious.

隨：堯問大舜，聖德增益。使民不懼，安無怵惕。

Yao consulted Shun, and the virtue of the sage thus increased further; the people no longer feared, and were at peace without alarm. This forest signifies humbly seeking the wise, with daily progress in virtue, the people in peace and prosperity, which is a great blessing.

蠱：昭公失常，季氏悖狂。遊齊處鄆，喪其寵身。

Lu Zhao Gong lost his proper conduct, and Ji Shi acted rebelliously and recklessly. Lu Zhao Gong fled and took refuge in Qi, settling in Yun, losing his position of honor. This is recorded in the Zuo Zhuan, Year 25 of Duke Zhao. This situation involves a weak ruler and strong ministers, losing his position and fleeing, with the honored person wandering, which is a great misfortune.

臨：昏暮不行，候旦待明。復住止後，未得相從。

At dusk, he was unwilling to move, waiting until dawn to depart; later he stopped and lingered behind, ultimately failing to keep up with his companions. This indicates that the person is hesitant in action, misses the right opportunity, and thus misses out on a chance to connect with others, which is inauspicious.

觀：安止宜官，一日九遷。升擢超等，牧養常山。

He who is stable in his position and suitable for official duty will be promoted nine times within a single day. He will be elevated beyond his usual rank and appointed to govern a territory. The phrase "a day with nine promotions" illustrates the speed of his advancement. This indicates that the person will experience rapid progress in his career, increasing in status and prestige, and will be entrusted with governing a region, which is highly auspicious.

噬嗑：去惡就凶，東西多訟，行者無功。

Wishing to avoid misfortune one meets danger instead, lawsuits arise both east and west; those traveling abroad labor in vain. This oracle indicates improper avoidance, constant disputes, and fruitless endeavors, resulting in misfortune.

賁：老馬垂耳，不見百里。君子弗恃，商人莫取。無與為市。

An old horse with drooping ears cannot run more than a hundred li; a gentleman would not rely on it, a merchant would not buy it, and no one would wish to trade with it. This indicates that the strength of the forest is declining and it is useless, not desired by people, and there is no way to sell it, which is ominous.

剝：蟙螺生子，深自黑丑。似類其母，雖或相就。眾人莫取。（一雲蝸螺自疑當作目）

Bats and snails produce offspring that are dark and ugly; although they resemble their mothers, sometimes people get close to them, but everyone refuses to take them. The commentary says that the character 'self' in the line '蜗螺' might actually be 'eye'. This refers to the person's appearance being unattractive and their nature lowly, not being accepted by others. Even if there is affection from similar beings, they will still not be used, which is inauspicious.

復：百足俱行，相輔為強。三聖翼事，王室寵光。

The hundred-legged insect moves with all its legs in unison, supporting each other and appearing strong; three sages jointly assist in state affairs, bringing honor and glory to the royal family. This forest signifies the coordination of many forces and the assistance of virtuous ministers in governance, bringing glory to the family and great auspiciousness.

旡妄：容民蓄眾，履德有信。大人受福，童蒙憂惑。利無所得。

Including the people, nurturing many, practicing virtue and upholding trust; the superior person thus receives blessings, while the ignorant and unimportant remain in confusion and distress, not benefiting. The phrase "容民畜众" comes from the Great Image (Daxiang) of the Zhou Changes (I Ching). This indicates that the one in authority, being broad-minded, gains blessings, while those who are ignorant and without position still find it difficult to gain benefits. Good fortune and misfortune vary according to the person.

大畜：左跌右僵，前躓觸桑。其稽據石，傷其弟兄。老蠶不作，家無織帛。貴貨賤身，久留連客。

He who is on the left falls down, on the right becomes stiff and unable to move, and ahead is tripped up by a mulberry tree; stopping to rest against a stone, he injures his brother; the old silkworms stop spinning silk, and the family cannot weave silk cloth; valuing goods over self, he remains away for a long time as a guest. This omen indicates that the person in charge of the forest experiences difficulties in movement and action, suffers injuries to his limbs, and has a decline in his livelihood. Due to his attachment to wealth, he is burdened and travels far away, which is ominous.

頤：昏人旦明，賣食老昌。國祚東表，號稱太公。

A person who was confused eventually became clear-minded by morning, having lived a life of selling food and achieving prosperity in old age. The national destiny extended beyond the East Sea, and was honored as the Great Duke. Li Shang once suffered in the market of Chao Song and sold food at Jiji Bridge, but later was enfeoffed at Qi and became the Great Duke. This forest signifies people who have been in difficult circumstances but will eventually achieve clarity and success, attaining wealth and honor in their later years, which is a great auspicious omen.

大過：敝笱在梁，魴逸不禁。漁父勞苦，焦喉乾口。虛空無有。

A broken fish basket is placed on the fish weir, but the鲂 fish slip away and cannot be stopped; the fisherman works hard, his throat dry and mouth parched, yet in the end he gets nothing. "敝笱在梁" is taken from "The Poem of the State of Qi ·敝笱" in the Book of Songs. This indicates that the master's tools are in disrepair, his defenses are weak, his labor is in vain, and it is ominous.

坎：盛中後跌，衰者復掇。盈滿或毀，疾羸肥腯。鄭昭失國，重耳興立。

When something reaches its peak it may then decline, and what is declining may recover; what is full may be overturned, while what is weak may become strong. Zheng's Duke Zhao lost his state, but Prince Chong'er of Jin rose to power and established himself. This illustrates the mutual transformation of prosperity and decline, and the cyclical waxing and waning. Those in prosperity should beware of decline, while those in decline may hope for revival.

離：折亡破甕，使我困貧。與母生分，別離異門。

Breaking things and losing wealth, breaking the jar, causing me to fall intopredicament and poverty; being separated from my mother, parting ways and each in a different household. This indicates the owner of the forest will lose money, damage objects, experience separation from family, face poverty, and it is凶.

咸：野有積庾，嗇人駕取。不逢狼虎，暮歸其宇。

In the fields, there is a heap of grain left exposed outdoors, and the farmer drives his cart to load it. On the way, there is no encounter with wolves or tigers, and he returns safely to his house in the evening. The啬人 refers to the farmer. This forest owner has a good harvest in the wild and smooth transportation, with a safe return trip, which is auspicious.

恆：襁褓孩孤，冠帶成家。出門如賓，父母何憂。

An orphan in infancy will grow up to wear a cap and tie, establish a family and career. When going out, he treats others with respect as if entertaining guests. What can the parents worry about? The phrase "outgoing like a guest" comes from the Zuo Zhuan. This indicates that the child, though orphaned, will eventually become independent, respectful and well-mannered, bringing no worries to the family, which is auspicious.

大壯：陳力就列，官職無廢。手不勝盆，失其寵門。

Assess one's ability and take on appropriate responsibilities, each person taking their proper position, then official positions will not be neglected; however, if one cannot hold a basin, they will ultimately lose the path to favor. The phrase "Chen li jiu lie" comes from the "Analects of Confucius · Ji Shi." This master says that those who are competent can maintain their positions, while those who are not capable will surely lose the favor of the superior. Whether it is auspicious or ominous depends entirely on self-assessment.

晉：積雪大寒，萬物不生。陰制庶士，時本寒貧。

Accumulated snow is thick and the weather is extremely cold, with all things not growing; yin energy suppresses people, and the time is inherently cold, poor, and meager. This forest indicates a severe cold season, with no vitality emerging, people being constrained, poverty is inevitable, and it is凶 (auspicious).

明夷：龍鬥海門，失理傷賢。內畔生賊，自為心疾。

A group of dragons fight within the sea gate, violating the norm and harming the virtuous; internal rebellion produces calamity, and the person becomes their own internal threat. "Pàn" means rebellion. This indicates upper-level conflict, harm to the virtuous, calamity arising from within, a great misfortune.

家人：不畏猛虎，依人為輔。三夫執獸，伏不敢起。身安無咎。

Not fearing a tiger, relying on the strength of many; three strong men subdued the beast, which lay down and did not rise. The person himself is safe with no fault. This indicates that the leader gathers people together, strengthens himself, and with united effort controls the凶 (dangerous force), thus preserving his own safety, which is auspicious.

睽：南山高岡，回隤難登。道路遼遠，行者無功。憂不改凶，惡亦消去。

The high hill of Nan Mountain is winding and steep, difficult to climb; the road is far away, and travelers go in vain. Although worries remain unsolved and ominous signs have not changed, evil things eventually dissipate. This forest indicates difficult journeys and no success in endeavors, yet disasters ultimately subside, turning from凶 to peaceful.

蹇：逢時陽遂，富且尊貴。

Just at the right time, the yang energy is smooth and unimpeded, thus both wealthy and noble. This person is experiencing favorable fortune, everything goes smoothly, with both wealth and status, which is very auspicious.

解：求我所欲，得其利福。終身不辱，盈盛之門。高屋光覆，君先其固。

To seek what one desires brings benefit and good fortune; throughout life one remains unhumiliated, the family thrives and becomes prosperous; a grand house shines brightly, and the master first establishes a solid foundation. This indicates that the person's wishes will be fulfilled, the family will flourish, the foundation is established first, then longevity follows, which is a great auspicious omen.

損：安坐至暮，禍災不到。利詰妒姝，皇宥不赦。

Sit quietly and safely until night falls, and misfortune will not come; it is appropriate to question those jealous beauties. The sovereign is lenient but will not pardon them. This forest maintains calm and remains free from disaster. Internally, one should整顿 those who are jealous and competing for favor, and deal with them strictly for good.

益：膠車駕東，與雨相逢。五楘（一作婺）解墮，頓斬獨宿。憂為身福。

A carriage stuck together with glue was heading east when it suddenly encountered rain. The five leather straps on the carriage yoke came loose and fell off, forcing the carriage to stop and stay overnight alone. This misfortune turned out to be a blessing for the owner. "Wu Mu" is alternatively written as "Wu Wei," and "Wu Mu Liang Zhu" is a phrase from the "Poetry Classic · Qin Wind · Xiao Rong." Although the owner's carriage was not sturdy and was hindered by rain on the way, he ultimately gained benefit from the misfortune, starting with adversity and ending in good fortune.

夬：擇日高飛，遠至東齊。見孔聖師，徒我相諧。

Choose a favorable day to travel far and away to the eastern state of Qi; meet a sage teacher like Confucius, and have harmonious relations with fellow disciples. This forest ruler indicates choosing a good time for distant travel, encountering a wise teacher and good friends, sharing the same aspirations, which is very auspicious.

姤：陳媯敬仲，兆興齊姜。乃適營丘，八世大昌。

Chen State's nobleman Ji Zheng, of the Gui surname, divined a sign indicating he would rise to prominence in the state of Qi; thus he went to Yingqiu, and after eight generations, his lineage became greatly prosperous. The Zuo Zhuan, Volume 22 of Duke Zhuang, records that Chen Jingzhong fled to Qi, and the divination said, "After eight generations, none will rival him." This person moved far away to another country, and the divination was favorable, leading to prosperity for his descendants for several generations, which is a great auspicious omen.

萃：缺將無憚，難從東西。毀破我盆，泛棄酒食。

When the leader is missing, everyone has no fear and is difficult to control, both east and west; breaking my vessel, the food and wine are spilled and discarded. This forest has no leader, the dragons have no head, advancing and retreating without direction, the vessels are broken and the food is wasted, which is凶 (a凶 omen).

升：中夜狗吠，盜在廬外。神光佐助，消散歸去。

In the middle of the night, the dog barked, indicating thieves were outside the house. However, with the assistance of a divine light from the side, the thieves dispersed and retreated. This indicates that the forest has a warning of theft at night, but with divine help, the danger was averted, resulting in only a scare without actual danger.

困：雷車不藏，隱隱西行。霖雨三旬，流為河江。使我憂心。

Thunder roars like a cart unwilling to be contained, rolling westward silently; continuous heavy rain falls for thirty days, accumulating into rivers and streams, causing me deep worry. This indicates that the forest is suffering from prolonged rain leading to flooding, with water power uncontrollable, burdens of worry surrounding, and an ominous omen.

井：老河空虛，舊井無魚。利得不饒，避患東鄰。福來入門，使我悔存。

The old riverbed is dry and empty, and the old well has no fish; the gains are not substantial, so one has to take refuge at the eastern neighbor's house to avoid misfortune. Later, when good fortune enters, it allows me to leave my regrets behind. This indicates that the person's old business has dried up, profits are meager, they had to seek refuge elsewhere, but eventually good fortune comes, leading to a reversal from hardship to prosperity.

革：福德之士，歡悅日喜。夷吾相國，三歸為臣。貴流子孫。

A person with virtue and fortune experiences increasing joy day by day. Guan Yiwu served as the prime minister of the state of Qi, enjoying the wealth of three returns yet remaining in the position of a minister. His wealth and status were passed down to his descendants. Guan Zhong had the three returns, as mentioned in the Analects of Confucius, the chapter on the Eight佾. This person has great virtue and high status, with wealth and honor that can be inherited, benefiting future generations, which is a great auspicious sign.

鼎：清人高子，久屯外野。逍遙不歸，思我慈母。

The poem "Qing Ren" from the "Book of Songs," "Zheng Feng" describes Gao Ke leading his troops for a long time stationed by the river, with soldiers enduring prolonged service in the wild, unable to return home and only able to miss their kind mothers. This person has been away for a long time, with no certain return date, and their longing for family has caused worry, indicating an inauspicious situation.

震：驄 （音葛）黑 ，東歸高鄉。白虎推輪，蒼龍把衡。朱雀導引，靈鳥載遊。遠扣天門，入見真君。馬全人安。

Riding a fine horse with a mixture of green and white hairs and black color, heading east back to the high village; the White Tiger pushes the wheels from behind, the Blue Dragon holds the carriage pole, the Vermilion Bird leads the way in front, and the spiritual bird carries the journey; traveling far to open the heavenly gate, entering to pay homage to the true deity; the horses are complete and the people are safe. The four divine creatures leading the way are imagined by the Han people as divine processional attendants. This forest's main deity protects the spirits, facilitates long journeys to heaven, ensures safety for both people and horses, which is a great auspicious omen.

艮：路多枳棘，前刺我足。不利旅客，為心作毒。

The path is full of citrus trees and brambles; advancing will prick my foot. It is unfavorable for travelers, becoming a poison in the heart. This forest indicates a future filled with thorns and injuries when taking steps, travel is not advisable, it is ominous.