Hexagram 63
After Completion - Already Fording
既济
Meaning and Overview
The hexagram After Completion has the upper trigram of Water (Kan) and the lower trigram of Fire (Li). Fire beneath water symbolizes cooking food. The first, third, and fifth lines are yang lines in yang positions; the second, fourth, and sixth lines are yin lines in yin positions. The firm and yielding are in their proper places, indicating each occupies its position and performs its function. Among the sixty-four hexagrams, only After Completion has all yin and yang lines in their correct positions. Yet its judgment and line texts are not necessarily superior to those of other hexagrams where lines are not in proper positions. This is because the most important characteristic of the I Ching is change. Since success has been achieved and order established, the next step will gradually move toward the opposite of success and stability. Therefore, After Completion conceals crisis. The judgment directly states: 'Initial good fortune, but in the end disorder.' It begins auspiciously but ultimately descends into chaos. The success of After Completion is actually very hard-won and not easily attained. The third line says: 'The Illustrious Ancestor (Gaozong) attacked the Demon Region and conquered it after three years. Do not employ petty men.' Gaozong was the revitalizing ruler of the Yin (Shang) dynasty, wise and great. After three years of prolonged warfare, he finally conquered the Demon Region, but killing a thousand enemies cost eight hundred of his own—he paid a heavy price. After victory, one must be even more cautious. The third line says 'do not employ petty men,' meaning one must not appoint base individuals to govern the state. The fourth line says 'be on guard all day long,' maintaining vigilance and caution throughout the day. The fifth line says: 'The neighbor to the east slaughters an ox, but this is not equal to the modest sacrifice of the neighbor to the west, who truly receives blessing.' As long as the western neighbor sincerely performs the sacrifice according to the prescribed rites, it surpasses the blessing obtained by the eastern neighbor who oversteps ritual by using an ox. The top line also warns: 'He gets his head in the water. Danger.' 'Gets his head in the water' means drinking wine in violation of ritual, indulging in wild revelry, and soaking the head with wine.
Chinese Interpretation
《既济》卦象上卦为坎水，下卦为离火，火在水下，表示烹煮食物。一、三、五阳爻居于阳位，二、四、六阴爻居于阴位，刚柔当位，表示各就其位、各司其职。应该说，六十四卦中只有《既济》一个卦是阴阳爻全部当位的，可是《既济》卦的卦辞与爻辞并不见得就比其他不当位的卦爻辞好。因为《周易》一个最重要的特点是变化，既然已经成功了，秩序安定了，那么下一步就会慢慢走向成功、稳定的反面，因此，《既济》卦隐藏着危机。卦辞直接说明“初吉，终乱”。开始吉利，最后走向失序混乱。《既济》卦的成功实际上也非常艰难，来之不易，九三爻辞说：“高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用。”高宗是殷商中兴之主，英明伟大，经过了三年的长期战争，讨伐鬼方终于取得胜利，但杀敌一千，自损八百，自己也付出了惨重代价。取得胜利后更要小心谨慎，九三爻说“小人勿用”，不能任用小人治理国政。六四爻说要“终日戒”，整天保持警戒小心状态。九五爻说：“东邻杀牛，不如西邻之禴祭，实受其福。”西邻只要诚心按照禴祭的礼制规定祭祀，也胜过东邻越礼制，用牛来祭祀所得到的福报。上六爻辞也告诫说“濡其首，厉”，濡其首，就是说饮酒违反了礼制，放纵狂欢，酒水弄湿了头。
Line Interpretations
These passages include the core hexagram statement, the six moving line texts, and traditional commentary where available. Read them as layered guidance: the early lines describe the root of the situation, while later lines reveal development, pressure, and outcome.
亨小，利贞，初吉，终乱。
柔小者获得亨通，利于坚守正道；开始时吉祥，到最后会导致祸乱发生。
Small things succeed. Perseverance furthers. At the beginning, good fortune; at the end, disorder.
The small and weak attain success; it is favorable to abide in what is right. At the beginning there is good fortune, but in the end there will be disorder.
初九，曳其轮，濡其尾，无咎。
初九爻，向后拖拉车轮，小心前行，小狐狸渡河时弄湿了尾巴，小心谨慎，不会有祸害。
Nine at the beginning: He drags back his wheel. He gets his tail in the water. No blame.
The first line, nine: He pulls back the wheel of his carriage, and wets his tail. By being cautious, there is no harm.
六二，妇丧其弗，勿逐，七日得。
六二爻，贵族妇女乘车时丢失了华丽的车盖，不用追寻，七天后将失而复得。
Six in the second: The woman loses her carriage curtain. Do not pursue it. In seven days you will get it back.
The second line, six: The noble lady loses her carriage canopy. Do not go after it; in seven days it will be recovered.
九三，高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用。
九三爻，殷代中兴之君高宗征伐鬼方蛮夷，经过三年的持久战争，才征服了鬼方。小人不能任用。
Nine in the third: The Illustrious Ancestor attacks the Demon Region. After three years he conquers it. Do not employ petty men.
The third line, nine: The revitalizing ruler Gaozong of the Yin dynasty attacked the barbarian Demon Region. After three years of prolonged war, he conquered it. Petty men must not be employed.
六四，繻有衣袽，终日戒。
六四爻，华丽的帛衣因三年战争都变成了破烂不堪的衣裳了，军队仍然整天提高警惕，防备着鬼方捣乱。
Six in the fourth: The fine robe becomes rags. Be on guard all day long.
The fourth line, six: The splendid silk robe has become tattered rags due to the three-year war. The army remains on guard all day, vigilant against disturbances from the Demon Region.
九五，东邻杀牛，不如西邻之禴祭，实受其福。
九五爻，东边邻居之人杀牛举行盛大祭祀，不如西边邻居之人举行微薄的禴祭，实际上蒙受了神灵赐予的福泽。
Nine in the fifth: The neighbor to the east slaughters an ox, but this is not equal to the modest sacrifice of the neighbor to the west, who truly receives blessing.
The fifth line, nine: The eastern neighbor slaughters an ox for a grand sacrifice, but this is not as good as the western neighbor's simple sacrifice, who actually receives the blessing from the spirits.
上六，濡其首，厉。
上六爻，小狐狸渡河时淹到了头部，十分危险。
Six at the top: He gets his head in the water. Danger.
The top line, six: The little fox, when fording the river, gets its head submerged. This is extremely dangerous.