Hexagram 54
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歸妹 (Guī Mèi)
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Guī Mèi
The Marrying Maiden
The Marrying Maiden (歸妹 (Guī Mèi)): Upper Thunder, Lower Lake. Undertakings bring misfortune. Secondary roles require humility without illusions of primacy.
Upper Trigram
Thunder
Lower Trigram
Lake
⚖ The Judgment
Undertakings bring misfortune. Secondary roles require humility without illusions of primacy.
✧ The Image
Thunder stirs the lake; the noble person understands transience and contemplates endings.
Philosophical Interpretation
In the I Ching (Book of Changes), Hexagram 54 (The Marrying Maiden / 歸妹 (Guī Mèi)) embodies the cosmic dynamic between Thunder above and Lake below. It teaches that wisdom arises from understanding seasonal transitions and adhering to moral constancy.
The Six Changing Lines
- 1 Line 1: Beginning phase of The Marrying Maiden; observe quiet reserve.
- 2 Line 2: Inner equilibrium aligned with virtuous company.
- 3 Line 3: Transition point; rash action invites complication.
- 4 Line 4: Deep breakthrough; sincerity dissipates lingering doubts.
- 5 Line 5: Central sovereign seat; radiant integrity guides the collective.
- 6 Line 6: Culmination and apex; beware hubris as the cycle turns.