Hexagram 38

Opposites

In practice

The judgment

You're in a situation of opposition: the people around you are different from you, yet you need to share with them. This means that what you can achieve for now is small. Even so, don't give in. It matters that both you and they keep your own nature and contribute from there to a shared project.

The poetry

Opposition

In small matters, good fortune.

The image

Fire above, the lake below: opposition. So the noble person joins with others and yet stays distinct.

The lines

  1. Line 6上九

    Isolation leads you into a moment of confusion where you don't recognize friends or allies; you're even about to attack them. But little by little the confusion clears, and joining with like-minded people will bring you success.

    Alone in opposition: sees a pig covered in mud, a cart loaded with ghosts. First the bow is drawn; then it is set down. Not a raider: a wedding party. If on the way the rain comes, good fortune.

  2. Line 5六五

    In the midst of opposites you'll find someone loyal whom you won't recognize at first, but they'll come to you and support you.

    Regret vanishes. Their clan bites into tender flesh. Going: what fault could there be?

  3. Line 4九四

    Keeping to yourself in this time of opposition will help you find people who are truly like you and achieve success.

    Alone in opposition, meets a worthy man; they trust each other. Danger. No fault.

  4. Line 3六三

    Even if conditions turn against you and you're even attacked, staying true to yourself and to those you admire will lead you to success.

    Sees the cart dragged back, the ox held fast; the driver, branded on the forehead, nose cut off. No beginning, but an end.

  5. Line 2九二

    You can reach agreements with people like you whom you're not in touch with, using skillful means to bring those meetings about.

    Meets their lord in a back lane. No fault.

  6. Line 1初九

    Don't try to join with anyone by force; it's important to recognize differences, however large. Even if someone close to you pulls away for a while, let them go: they'll come back on their own.

    Regret vanishes. The horse is lost: do not chase it; it comes back by itself. Seeing wicked people: no fault.

Its 63 transformations

Depending on which lines move in your cast, Opposites turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.

One moving line

6

Two moving lines

15

Three moving lines

20

Four moving lines

15

Five moving lines

6

All six lines moving

1

The classical text

睽:小事吉。

象曰:上火下澤,睽;君子以同而異。

初九:悔亡,喪馬勿逐,自復;見惡人无咎。

九二:遇主于巷,无咎。

六三:見輿曳,其牛掣,其人天且劓,无初有終。

九四:睽孤,遇元夫,交孚,厲无咎。

六五:悔亡,厥宗噬膚,往何咎。

上九:睽孤,見豕負塗,載鬼一車,先張之弧,後說之弧,匪寇婚媾,往遇雨則吉。

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Have a question? Toss the coins