水火既济
万事已成，守成防衰
The Judgment
After Completion: success in small things, and perseverance in what is right is rewarding. At the outset, good fortune; at the end, disorder.
When all has been brought to completion, it is small matters that still profit from steadfastness. The beginning is auspicious, but if one grows slack, the end drifts into disorder.
水在火上，既济。君子以思患而预防之。
既济，亨，小者亨也。利贞，刚柔正而位当也。初吉，柔得中也。终止则乱，其道穷也。
Interpretation(original text)
既济者，已经渡济、事已成也。上坎（水）下离（火），水在火上，水火交融，烹饪成熟，万事已济之象。六爻皆当位（阳居阳位、阴居阴位），为六十四卦中最完美之结构。程颐谓「既济，事之既成也」，然盛极必衰，「初吉终乱」。
上坎为水，下离为火，火在下而水在上，水火相交各得其用。火炎上而水润下，二者交感则烹饪成功。王弼注「水火相交，各得其用」。虞翻以坎离为日月，日月合明，既济之象。然水火相交虽成济，若火灭水竭则既济反为未济。
六二与九五正应，为卦之主。六爻皆当位：初九、九三、九五阳居阳位；六二、六四、上六阴居阴位。完美之中寓不完美，因极致完美则无可进步。九五「东邻杀牛，不如西邻之禴祭」，至诚薄祭胜于丰盛不诚。上六「濡其首」，济极而溺。
既济为第六十三卦，与未济（第六十四卦）相综。《序卦》曰「有过物者必济，故受之以既济」。既济与未济为六十四卦之终结对，既济事成而未济事未成。朱熹谓「既济备矣，然初吉终乱」，物不可穷，故以未济终焉。
The Lines
He drags the wheels to slow them, and the fox wets its tail. No blame.
Reining in the pace, moving as cautiously as a fox that dampens its tail crossing the water, he goes on without fault.
Image: 曳其轮，义无咎也。
初九阳居阳位得正，既济之始。「曳其轮」，拖住车轮使之缓行。「濡其尾」，如小狐渡水湿其尾。此爻居济之初，当有戒慎之心，不可急进。程颐注「济之始当慎」，曳轮以缓行，知始慎终。
The woman loses the screen of her carriage. Do not chase after it; in seven days it will return.
When a hair ornament or carriage-screen is lost, there is no need to pursue it; after seven days it comes back of itself.
Image: 七日得，以中道也。
六二阴柔居中得正，与九五正应，既济之主。「妇丧其茀」，妇人丢失车帘。「勿逐，七日得」，不必追寻，七日自然复得。此爻柔中正有应，济道已成而当安守。朱熹谓「中正有应」，自然之道不可强求。
The high ancestor campaigns against the Devil's Land and subdues it only after three years. Small-minded men must not be employed.
A great ruler needed three long years to subdue a distant foe; such hard-won victories are no place for petty, unworthy men to be entrusted with power.
Image: 三年克之，惫也。
九三阳居阳位，处下卦之极。「高宗伐鬼方，三年克之」，如殷高宗征伐鬼方历三年乃克。此爻济道已成之际仍需征伐，示守成之难。王弼注「用壮以济」，小人勿用，当以君子成其功。
Even fine garments keep rags at hand to plug the leaks; be watchful the whole day through.
Keeping old rags ready to stop the seams of the boat, one stays on guard all day long, for after success one must be even more careful.
Image: 终日戒，有所疑也。
六四阴居阴位得正，处上卦之初。「繻有衣袽」，美衣之下有破絮，外美内败之象。「终日戒」，整日警戒防患。此爻既济过半，当防微杜渐。程颐谓「济将终而防其坏」，居安思危之道。
The eastern neighbor who slays an ox gains less than the western neighbor's modest offering, who truly receives the blessing.
A lavish sacrifice of oxen in the east wins less than a humble seasonal offering in the west; sincerity, not display, is what actually draws down blessing.
Image: 东邻杀牛，不如西邻之时也；实受其福，吉大来也。
九五阳刚中正居尊位，既济之主。「东邻杀牛，不如西邻之禴祭」，东邻丰祭不如西邻薄祭之诚。「实受其福」，至诚方能受福。朱熹注「刚中正居尊」，既济之时重在诚信而非外表形式。
He wets his head in the crossing. Danger.
To let one's head go under at the very end of the crossing, undone by carelessness just as all seemed finished, is dangerous.
Image: 濡其首，厉，何可久也。
上六阴居既济之极，济道穷尽。「濡其首」，涉水没其头，厉。如小狐济渡已成而末尾浸湿头部，功亏一篑。此爻示既济之终当谨防骄满，虞翻谓「济极则溺」，满招损、谦受益之理。
Divination Reference(original text)
达到既定目标后须防止骄傲松懈，市场已成之时往往是风险累积之时，保持警惕是关键。
事业有成之后切勿自满，守成比创业更需要持续的努力与谨慎。
感情进入稳定阶段后更需要用心维护，不可因习以为常而忽视对方。
身体恢复健康后更要维持良好习惯，不可因病愈而放松对健康的管理。
Traditional Reading(original text)
既济卦象征事已完成，水火交融、阴阳各得其位。看似完美的局面，却暗藏变数。初吉终乱，越是功成之时越要居安思危。运势先好后忧，须防盛极而衰。
事业已取得阶段性成功，各方面趋于完善。然而守成比创业更需智慧，不可因成功而自满松懈。持续保持警觉，防范潜在风险。
经商已达到一定的成就与规模。此时须防止因满足现状而失去进取心，也要防止因过度自信而盲目扩张。居安思危，未雨绸缪。
学业已有所成，知识体系趋于完善。但学无止境，不可因小成而自满。更上一层楼需要更多的努力与坚持。
感情进入稳定成熟阶段，双方关系和谐。但越是安稳越不可掉以轻心，持续用心经营才能避免感情走向平淡乃至疏离。
做决策时须居安思危，防患于未然。当前的成功不代表未来的安全，需要提前布局应对可能的变化。诚心胜于排场，务实胜于形式。
School Interpretations(original text)
既济者，事已成也。水火既交，阴阳位正之象。盛极防衰，居安思危。
既济卦为水在火上之象，水火相交，各得其位，万事已成。君子观此卦象，思虑忧患而提前防范。然而既济之后必有未济，完成之后必有新的开始。得此卦者虽当前诸事顺遂，但须时刻警惕变化的来临。初吉终乱是此卦的根本警示，越是完美之时越要小心谨慎。
运势已达顶点，宜居安思危。
投资已获利，宜适时了结。
家宅安稳，防物极必反。
身体尚可，注意预防保养。