K'uei / OppositionFire Above, Lake Below

Hexagram 38 ·

Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.

First
Nine
Second
Nine
Third
Six
Fourth
Nine
Fifth
Six
Top
Nine
Quick Guide

Judgment

Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.

Image

Fire above and lake below represent Opposition. The noble person seeks unity in diversity.

Lines

Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not chase it; it will return. When seeing evil persons, guard against mistakes. Meeting one's lord in a narrow street. No blame. Seei...

Hexagram Judgment

Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.

Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.

Tuan Commentary

Opposition: fire moves upward, the lake moves downward. Two daughters dwell together, but their aims are not the same. Joy and clarity: the yielding advances and moves upward, attains the middle and responds to the hard. Hence in small matters there is good fortune. Heaven and earth are opposites, but their work is the same. Man and woman are opposites, but their aims are in accord. All beings are opposites, but their kinds are the same. The time of Opposition is truly great.

Opposition: fire moves upward while the lake moves downward. Two daughters dwell together but their aims differ. Joy and clarity allow the yielding to advance upward, attaining the middle and responding to the hard. Though opposites, heaven and earth work together; man and woman have accordant aims.

Great Image

Above, fire; below, the lake: the image of Opposition. The noble person seeks unity in diversity.

Fire above and lake below represent Opposition. The noble person seeks unity in diversity.

Line Judgments
FirstNine

Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not run after it; it will return of its own accord. When you see evil persons, guard yourself against mistakes.

Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not chase it; it will return. When seeing evil persons, guard against mistakes.

Small Image

Seeing evil persons, guard yourself against mistakes: this serves to avoid harm.

Seeing evil persons while guarding against mistakes avoids harm.

SecondNine

One meets his lord in a narrow street. No blame.

Meeting one's lord in a narrow street. No blame.

Small Image

One meets his lord in a narrow street: but he has not lost his way.

Meeting the lord in a narrow street shows he has not lost his way.

ThirdSix

One sees the wagon dragged back, the oxen halted, a man's hair and nose cut off. Not a good beginning, but a good end.

Seeing the wagon dragged back, oxen halted, a man's hair and nose cut off. Not a good beginning, but a good end.

Small Image

One sees the wagon dragged back: his place is not the proper one. Not a good beginning, but a good end: he meets with the hard.

The dragged-back wagon shows improper position; good end comes from meeting the hard.

FourthNine

Isolated through opposition, one meets a like-minded man with whom one can associate in good faith. Even though there is danger, there is no blame.

Isolated through opposition, one meets a like-minded man to associate with in good faith. Though dangerous, no blame.

Small Image

Isolated through opposition, he meets a like-minded man: this serves to accomplish his aims.

Meeting a like-minded man while isolated serves to accomplish aims.

FifthSix

Remorse disappears. The companion bites his way through the wrappings. If one goes to him, how could it be a mistake?

Remorse disappears. The companion bites through the wrappings. Going to him is no mistake.

Small Image

The companion bites his way through the wrappings: if one goes to him, it brings celebration.

The companion biting through brings celebration.

TopNine

Isolated through opposition, one sees one's companion as a pig covered with dirt, as a wagon carrying devils. First one draws a bow against him, then one lays the bow aside. He is not a robber; he will woo at the right time. As one goes, rain falls; then good fortune comes.

Isolated, one sees his companion as a pig covered with dirt, as a wagon of devils. First drawing a bow, then laying it aside. He is not a robber but will woo at the right time. As one goes, rain falls; good fortune comes.

Small Image

Rain brings good fortune: all doubts dissolve.

Rain bringing good fortune means all doubts dissolve.

Frequently asked questions

What does K'uei / Opposition mean in the I Ching?

Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.

How should I study Hexagram 38 on this page?

Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not chase it; it will return. When seeing evil persons, guard against mistakes. Meeting one's lord in a narrow street. No blame. Seei...

How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?

Opposition: fire moves upward while the lake moves downward. Two daughters dwell together but their aims differ. Joy and clarity allow the yielding to advance upward, attaining the middle and responding to the hard. Thou...

Sources and Method

Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.

Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.

Continue in app

Opposition: fire moves upward while the lake moves downward. Two daughters dwell together but their aims differ. Joy and clarity allow the yielding to advance upward, attaining the middle and responding to the hard. Thou...

Study Notes(0)

Login to comment

No notes yet

Add your first study note