Hexagram 40: Deliverance

Trigrams

Upper trigram: Zhen (Thunder) · Lower trigram: Kan (Water)

Judgment

Favorable to the southwest. If there is nowhere to go, returning brings good fortune. If there is somewhere to go, acting promptly brings good fortune.

Image

Thunder and rain arise: deliverance. The noble one forgives faults and pardons wrongdoing.

Meaning of Hexagram Deliverance

Deliverance (解) is hexagram #40 of the 64 I-Ching hexagrams, formed by the upper trigram Zhen (Thunder) and lower trigram Kan (Water). It represents release from tension and difficulty; time to resolve and move forward. When this hexagram is cast, the querent should meditate on the judgment and image to grasp what the Yi is saying about the current situation.

The Six Lines Explained

Initial Six (Line 1)

"Vô cữu"

No blame. This is the shortest line, at the beginning of the period of release; simply staying calm and not stirring up trouble avoids any problem.

Second Nine (Line 2)

"Điền hoạch tam hồ, đắc hoàng thỉ, trinh, cát"

Hunting catches three foxes, obtaining a yellow arrow; holding to what is right brings good fortune. This line bears the responsibility of eliminating wrongdoers (the three foxes symbolizing bad people) while maintaining integrity and uprightness (the yellow arrow).

Third Six (Line 3)

"Phụ thả thừa, trí khấu chí; trinh lận"

One who carries a burden on the back yet rides in a carriage invites robbers; persisting in this behavior will bring regret. This is a warning that flaunting a status not matched by real ability easily invites misfortune.

Fourth Nine (Line 4)

"Giải nhi mẫu, bằng chí tư phu"

Releasing one's big toe (cutting off an unsuitable relationship) allows a good friend to come and trust one. This is a lesson about the need to decisively let go of negative relationships and attachments in order to gain the trust of good people.

Fifth Six (Line 5)

"Quân tử duy hữu giải, cát; hữu phu vu tiểu nhân"

The superior person must dispel petty people to achieve good fortune; observing whether petty people withdraw confirms whether one is truly a superior person. This ruling line advises decisively removing negative influences to affirm one's own integrity.

Top Six (Line 6)

"Công dụng xạ chuẩn vu cao dung chi thượng. Hoạch chi, vô bất lợi"

A duke shoots at a hawk perched atop a high wall and hits it — nothing is unfavorable. This final line symbolizes thorough preparation (talent and virtue) to decisively resolve any remaining trouble after the main problem has been solved.

The Transformed Hexagram

The hexagram has Kan (Water) as the inner trigram and Zhen (Thunder) as the outer trigram — it is the inverse of the hexagram Water over Mountain, Obstruction (Hexagram 39). When a moving line occurs, the hexagram transforms differently depending on its position. The specific moving line must be identified to determine the correct transformed hexagram.

Applications by Area of Life

Work & Career

This is a favorable hexagram, marking the period when difficulties and conflicts have passed. One should be tolerant and avoid complicating matters further (as in the spirit of the Judgment, "do not create unnecessary affairs"), while also decisively removing any remaining negative relationships or influences (as in Lines 4 and 5).

Love & Relationships

This is a good time to resolve old misunderstandings and conflicts in a relationship. One should be decisive about unhealthy attachments (as in Line 4) in order to build a better new relationship.

Health

This may be a period of recovery after illness or stress. One should maintain stability and avoid placing unnecessary additional pressure on the body.

Wealth

Favorable for resolving outstanding financial issues and restoring stability. One should avoid showing off or overreaching beyond one's actual capability (as warned in Line 3).

Frequently Asked Questions about Deliverance

What does the hexagram Release (Xie) mean?

Xie means release, dissolving — symbolizing the resolution of difficulty and hardship. This hexagram follows the hexagram Obstruction (Jian, Hexagram 39), marking a shift from difficulty to favorable conditions.

Why does the Judgment advise "not creating unnecessary affairs" after difficulty has been resolved?

Because after a period of difficulty, the most important thing is to restore normal stability and order — one should not create further unnecessary disturbance, but simply moderately consolidate what has already been achieved.

What is the lesson of "one who carries a burden yet rides in a carriage" in Line 3?

This is a warning against flaunting status or achievement beyond one's real ability — according to Confucius's commentary, such behavior is like "inviting" misfortune, as it draws unnecessary attention and resentment from others.