夬
Breakthrough
La Percée
Guài
Upper trigram
Lake
Lower trigram
Heaven
The Judgment
Breakthrough. One must resolutely make the matter known at the royal court. It must be announced with truthfulness. Danger. It is necessary to notify one's own town. It is not advantageous to resort to arms. It is advantageous to undertake something.
The Image
The lake has risen to heaven: the image of Breakthrough. Thus the superior man dispenses riches downward and fears to tarry in his virtue.
Meaning
Resolution, determination, decisive breakthrough. The moment demands firm action without violence, to cut off what must be severed.
The six lines
Line 1 (bottom)
Mighty in the toes that advance. When one goes and is not equal to the task, one commits a fault.
Line 2
A cry of alarm. Weapons in the evening and at night. Fear nothing.
Line 3
Being mighty in the cheekbones brings misfortune. The superior man is firmly resolved. He walks alone and meets the rain. He is splashed, and people murmur against him. No blame.
Line 4
There is no skin on his thighs, and walking is difficult. If one let oneself be led like a sheep, remorse would disappear. But if one hears these words, one will not believe them.
Line 5
In the face of weeds, firm resolution is necessary. To walk in the middle remains without blame.
Line 6 (top)
No cry. The end brings misfortune.