火水未济
事未成终,审慎前行
The Judgment
Before Completion: success. But the young fox, all but across, wets its tail, and nothing is to be gained.
The work is not yet finished and the crossing not yet made. Like a young fox that soaks its tail just short of the far bank, one falls short at the final step, and there is no real advantage.
火在水上,未济。君子以慎辨物居方。
未济,亨,柔得中也。小狐汔济,未出中也。濡其尾,无攸利,不续终也。虽不当位,刚柔应也。
Interpretation(original text)
未济者,事未成也,万物未终之义。上离(火)下坎(水),火在上而水在下,火炎上水润下,二者背离而不相交,故事未济。六爻皆不当位(阳居阴位、阴居阳位),与既济恰好相反。然未济非终结,实为新生之始。程颐谓「物不可穷也,故受之以未济终焉」。
上离为火,下坎为水,火上水下各行其道而不相交。水火不济,烹饪不成,事功未就。王弼注「火在水上,不交不济」。然虞翻以互体论之,未济中含既济之机,阴阳虽不当位却有相应之势,六爻两两相应(初四、二五、三上),未济之中蕴含济之可能。
六五为卦主,阴居阳位虽不当而柔中居尊,「君子之光,有孚吉」。九二刚中在下,「曳其轮」以待时。初六处未济之始,「濡其尾」力不足以济。上九居终位,「饮酒濡首」,虽未济而乐天知命。全卦虽皆不当位,然正因未济,一切皆有可能。
未济为第六十四卦,为《周易》最末卦,与既济(第六十三卦)相综。《序卦》曰「物不可穷也,故受之以未济终焉」。朱熹谓「易者变也,物不可穷」,以未济终结全书,寓意终而复始、生生不息。未济非绝望之辞,乃希望之始,万物方来之象。
The Lines
It wets its tail. Cause for regret.
Blundering at the very outset, like a fox that soaks its tail before it has fairly begun, brings humiliation.
Image: 濡其尾,亦不知极也。
初六阴居阳位不当,未济之始。「濡其尾」,如小狐渡水而湿其尾,力不能济。吝。此爻处未济之初,柔弱无力,勉强行之则陷于困。程颐注「未济之初,力未足也」,当蓄养待时而不可轻举。
He drags the wheels to hold back. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Checking one's pace and proceeding with restraint, holding firm to the right course, brings good fortune.
Image: 九二贞吉,中以行正也。
九二阳刚居中,处坎险之中。「曳其轮」,拖住车轮以自制。贞吉。此爻刚中而能自守,在未济之时不急于求成而以正道待之。朱熹谓「刚中有守」,未济之时守中以待,则终能济。
Not yet across, to press forward brings misfortune; yet it is favorable to cross the great water.
The task is unfinished, and a rash advance now invites peril; yet, looking further ahead, one must still set out to make the great crossing toward completion.
Image: 未济征凶,位不当也。
六三阴居阳位不当,处下卦之极。「未济,征凶」,未济而贸然前行则凶。「利涉大川」,然能冒险涉难则有转机。此爻阴柔失位,未济之际进退两难。王弼注「以柔居刚」,需量力而行。
Perseverance brings good fortune, and regret fades. With thunderous force he campaigns against the Devil's Land, and after three years is rewarded by a great kingdom.
Holding firm brings fortune and clears away regret; striking with decisive power against a distant foe, he wins, after three years, the reward of a great state.
Image: 贞吉悔亡,志行也。
九四阳居阴位,处上卦之初。「贞吉,悔亡」,守正则吉而悔消。「震用伐鬼方」,以雷厉之势征伐。「三年有赏于大国」,经长期努力终能有成。程颐谓「刚而能柔」,未济之时以刚行柔位,有济世之能。
Perseverance brings good fortune and no regret. The radiance of the noble one, borne of sincerity, shines forth. Good fortune.
Steadfastness brings fortune and leaves no regret; the true brilliance of the noble person, grounded in sincerity, shines out, and fortune follows.
Image: 君子之光,其晖吉也。
六五以柔居尊位,未济之主。「贞吉,无悔」。「君子之光,有孚吉」,君子光明之德以诚信辉映。此爻虽阴居阳位不当,然柔中居尊,以文明之德照耀未济之世。朱熹注「文明中顺」,未济之中最有希望之爻。
With sincere trust one drinks wine in celebration. No blame. But should one drench the head in drink, even sincerity loses its measure.
To share wine in honest good faith is without fault; but to drown oneself in it until the head is soaked is to let even sincerity lose its proper bounds.
Image: 饮酒濡首,亦不知节也。
上九阳居未济之极,为全书最末爻。「有孚于饮酒」,以诚信之心饮酒自乐,无咎。然「濡其首」则失是非矣。此爻处未济之终,未济终则将复始。虞翻谓「终则有始」,《周易》以此爻收束,万物未终、变化无穷,正所谓「生生之谓易」。
Divination Reference(original text)
事情尚未完成时不可急于求成,耐心等待时机成熟,坚守正道终将迎来转机。
处于事业未竟之时,不气馁不冒进,稳步积累实力,方能最终成就大事。
感情尚未定型时保持耐心,以诚信和努力继续经营,不要在最后关头放弃。
身体尚在调理之中,需持续坚持治疗与调养,不可半途而废,功亏一篑。
Traditional Reading(original text)
未济卦象征事未完成,渡河未竟。虽然目前尚未达到目标,但只要坚持正道、审慎行事,终将迎来转机。运势处于黎明前的黑暗,坚持就是胜利。
事业尚未达到理想状态,仍需继续努力。不可因一时的不如意而气馁,也不可急于求成而冒进。坚守正道,稳步前行,成功只是时间问题。
经商尚处于起步或调整阶段,距离盈利目标仍有差距。宜沉下心来扎实经营,不可因心急而做出错误判断。保持耐心和信心至关重要。
学业尚未达到理想水平,仍有进步空间。正因为未完成,才有无限可能。保持学习的热情与动力,坚持不懈终能学有所成。
感情尚在发展中,尚未定型。这恰恰是最有希望和活力的阶段。以诚心和耐心继续经营,不要在最后关头放弃,美好的结果就在前方。
做决策时须认清当前未完成的现实,不可盲目乐观。审慎分辨形势,找到正确的方向,然后坚定地走下去。未济之中蕴含着无限的可能性。
School Interpretations(original text)
未济者,事未成也。火在水上,不相交济之象。宜慎辨方向,坚持到底。
未济卦为火在水上之象,火与水不相交济,事情尚未完成。君子观此卦象,谨慎辨别事物,各安其位。未济是《周易》最后一卦,意味着事物的发展永无终点,终点即是新的起点。得此卦者虽面临未竟之局,但前途充满希望。只要保持诚信与正道,终将渡过难关,迎来新的济通之象。
运势尚在蓄积中,坚持必有转机。
投资尚未见回报,宜耐心持有。
家宅有待整理,逐步改善为宜。
身体调理中,坚持治疗终能痊愈。