第 43 卦 · Hexagram 43

夬

Guai · Lake over Heaven

決斷·五陽逼一陰·穀雨之卦

上☱兌 · 澤 / Lake下☰乾 · 天 / Heaven

錯卦把每一爻都翻轉（陽↔陰）後得到的另一卦。Every line flipped, yang ↔ yin.Opposite23 · 剝綜卦把整個卦上下顛倒後得到的另一卦。The whole figure turned upside-down.Inverse44 · 姤互卦由二、三、四爻與三、四、五爻組成的中間卦。Built from lines 2-3-4 and 3-4-5.Nuclear1 · 乾

象Image

先看圖像，再讀文字。Read the image before the words.

大象傳《大象傳》從上下卦的自然圖像推演全卦之象，再提出人事取法。The Great Image derives conduct from the two trigrams' natural images.Great Image

全卦成象Whole image
澤上於天，夬
(The trigram representing) the waters of a marsh mounted up to the heavens forms Guai.
人事取法Conduct
君子以施祿及下，居德則忌。
The superior man, in accordance with this, bestows emolument on those below him, and dislikes allowing his gifts to accumulate (undispensed).

澤在天上—夬之象。君子仿此—施予俸祿給在下者、自居美德則是禁忌。（澤上於天—水蓄積將要傾瀉 = 該給出 / 該釋放的時候。但不可以此自居為「我給了多少」—自居之德反為不德。）

(The trigram representing) the waters of a marsh mounted up to the heavens forms Guai. The superior man, in accordance with this, bestows emolument on those below him, and dislikes allowing his gifts to accumulate (undispensed).

辭Words

先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。The received text, then the Tuan commentary on it.

經

卦辭對整個卦（六條線為一組）的總體判斷。The judgment on the hexagram as a whole.

Judgment

夬：揚于王庭，孚號有厲。告自邑，不利即戎，利有攸往。

夬——在王庭公開揚言（指出罪過）；誠信地號召但仍有危險。從自己的城邑開始公告—不適合立即動武，但利於有所行動。夬是五陽逼一陰、決斷 / 清除 / 揭露的時刻。要在公開場合而非暗中、要從自己開始而非對外興兵。

Guai requires (in him who would fulfil its conditions) the exhibition (of the culprit's guilt) in the royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal (for sympathy and support), with a consciousness of the peril (involved in cutting off the criminal). He should (also) make announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms. (In this way) there will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to.

傳

彖傳十翼之一，直接解釋卦名、卦辭及其剛柔結構。Tuan Zhuan — explains the name, the Judgment and the line structure.

Commentary on the Judgment

夬，決也，剛決柔也。健而說，決而和。「揚于王庭」，柔乘五剛也；「孚號有厲」，其危乃光也。「告自邑，不利即戎」，所尚乃窮也。「利有攸往」，剛長乃終也。

夬—決斷。剛決斷柔。健而悅、決而和。「揚于王庭」—一柔乘在五剛之上（要公開處理）。「孚號有厲」—其危險反而顯出光明。「告自邑、不利即戎」—用武的路已經走到盡頭。「利有攸往」—剛長才能完成。

Guai is the symbol of breaking through, (the strong breaking through the weak). (We see in the figure) the attribute of strength directing that of complacency. There is breaking through and the harmony (that ensues thereon). 'The exhibition (of the culprit's guilt) in the royal court' is suggested by (the one) weak (line) being mounted on five strong lines. 'There has been a sincere and earnest appeal, but with a consciousness of the peril involved':—the danger thus indicated is the way to make the (method) brilliant. 'He should make an announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms':—(if he had recourse to arms), what he prefers would (soon) be exhausted. 'There will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to':—when the growth of the strong (lines) has been completed, there will be an end (to the divisions of the figure).

爻Lines

六條線各有一句判斷。閱讀次序初→上；卦象由下而上，看左側的卦。One statement per line, read from the first line to the top. The figure is drawn bottom-up — watch the rail.

初九

趾

末端急進rushing toes

第 1 爻 · 陽line 1 · yang

壯于前趾，往不勝為咎。

強在腳趾前端—前進不能勝利反成過失。初九急於前進但力量不足。決斷之初不應從末端用力。

The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject in the pride of strength advancing with his toes. He goes forward, but will not succeed:—there will be ground for blame.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

不勝而往，咎也。

不能勝卻還前進—是過失。

'He goes forward, though he cannot succeed':—this is an error.

九二

惕

警戒中道vigilant central

第 2 爻 · 陽line 2 · yang

惕號，莫夜有戎，勿恤。

警戒地呼號—即使夜裡有兵戎也不用憂慮。九二居中而警—隨時戒備反而安全。

The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject full of apprehension and appealing for sympathy and help. Late at night hostile measures may be (taken against him), but he need not be anxious about them.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

有戎勿恤，得中道也。

有戎不憂—得到中道。

'Although hostile measures be taken, he need not be anxious':—he pursues the course of the due Mean.

九三

頄

怒形於面anger on face

第 3 爻 · 陽line 3 · yang

壯于頄，有凶。君子夬夬獨行，遇雨若濡，有慍，无咎。

強在顴骨—有凶。君子決斷而獨行，遇雨像被淋濕，有慍怒—但無咎。九三過剛而表露在臉上（顴骨）—凶險。但真君子即使獨行 / 被誤解，也能守住自己。

The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject (about to advance) with strong (and angry) looks. There will be evil. But while the superior man is bent on cutting off (the criminal), if he happen to be alone and meet with rain, and be (as it were) wet by it, (so that he is the object of resentment to his friends), there will be no error in the end.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

君子夬夬，終无咎也。

君子決而又決—最終無咎。

'The superior man looks bent on cutting off (the criminal)':—in the end there will be no error.

九四

牽

跟隨方止悔follow to no regret

第 4 爻 · 陽line 4 · yang

臀无膚，其行次且。牽羊悔亡，聞言不信。

臀部沒有皮—走路困難。牽著羊走後悔消失，但聽到勸言也不相信。九四進退兩難（坐立不安）—應該跟著強者一起走（牽羊）才沒後悔；但此位多不信他人之言。

The fourth NINE, undivided, shows one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped, and who walks slowly and with difficulty. (If he could act) like a sheep led (after its companions), occasion for repentance would disappear; but though he hear these words, he will not believe them.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

其行次且，位不當也；聞言不信，聰不明也。

走路困難—位不當；聽言不信—聰而不明。

'He walks slowly and with difficulty':—he is not in his proper place. 'He hears these words, but does not believe them':—he hears, but does not understand.

九五

夬

君位決斷ruler's break-through

第 5 爻 · 陽line 5 · yang

莧陸夬夬，中行无咎。

像莧陸草一樣容易被拔除—決斷而又決斷。中道而行—無咎。九五居君位—對上六那條陰爻的處理方式是決斷而守中道。

The fifth NINE, undivided, shows (one dealing with his subject as he would with) a bed of purslain, which ought to be uprooted with the utmost determination. (The subject of the line having such determination), his action, in harmony with his central position, will lead to no error.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

中行无咎，中未光也。

中道而行無咎—但中道還沒發光。

'If his action be in harmony with his central position, there will be no error':—but his standing in the due Mean is not yet brilliantly displayed.

上六

号

孤陰將盡isolated yin

第 6 爻 · 陰line 6 · yin

无號，終有凶。

沒有號召—最終有凶。上六是整卦唯一的陰爻—它是即將被決斷的那一條。沒有救援、孤立無援，凶。

The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject without any (helpers) on whom to call. His end will be evil.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

无號之凶，終不可長也。

無號之凶—最終不能長久。

'The misery of having none on whom to call':—its end will be that he cannot continue any longer.

用Use

把象套到你的情境，取一個可行的下一步。Apply the image to your situation; take one practical step.

湖水蓄滿在天上—即將傾瀉而下的力量 + 公開場合中的決斷。

A lake's water held above heaven — accumulated force about to release + decision made in public space.

把象套到你的情境 · Apply the image to your situation

初九趾急著舉報太早rushing accusation
九二惕戒備而正vigilant and correct
九三頄情緒寫在臉上anger visible
九四牽跟著結盟joining the coalition
九五夬領導果斷處理decisive leader action
上六号孤立無援被處理isolated, dealt with

夬與姤為同一對力量結構的兩種命運：夬是決斷將盡之陰，姤是迎接剛起之陰。讀夬同時想姤—處理舊問題的同時注意新問題的萌芽。Guai and Gou are two fates of the same force-structure. Guai: deciding the dying yin. Gou: meeting the newborn yin. Reading Guai implies reading Gou — handle old problems while watching for new ones germinating.

可行的一步 · Practical move

夬卦教人決斷而不暴力。卦辭先立兩重限制：決斷要放在公開場合（揚于王庭），且不可急於動武（不利即戎）——公開、漸進、合理，缺一不可。到了九五「莧陸夬夬」，居中行道、條件成熟，決斷便像拔軟草一樣不費力。大象再補一句「居德則忌」：給而不邀功，不自居美德。最怕九三「壯于頄」怒形於色，以及上六「无號」落到孤立無援。

Guai teaches 'decisive without violence.' Three operations: (1) the judgment's two constraints — in public space + don't rush arms; (2) line 5's 'uprooting purslane easily' — truly mature decisiveness is effortless because you've held the central path and conditions have ripened; (3) the Great Image 'the self-claim of virtue is taboo' — don't claim virtue, give without taking credit. The deepest failures: line 3 'anger on face' + line 6 'isolated, no support.'

失手之處 · Failure mode

把夬讀成「我該趕緊動手解決那個問題」—太早 / 太暴。卦辭明確「不利即戎」+ 「揚于王庭」—公開、漸進、合理。最大的失誤是用怒氣（九三頄）/ 用蠻力（初九趾）/ 不公開（暗中處理）。

Misreading Guai as 'I should hurry and force this issue' — too early / too violent. The judgment is explicit: don't rush to arms + do it publicly in the royal court. The deepest failures: using anger (line 3 cheekbone) / using brute force (line 1 toes) / non-publicness (handling in private).

義理Commentary4

魏晉 · 3rd c.王弼《周易注》Wang Bi, Commentary on the Zhou YiScholarly

夬者，決也。剛長而柔將盡，故謂之夬。決事之道，尚明而忌暗——揚于王庭即是其義。然剛盛而不可恃力，故曰「不利即戎」——以德服人，斯為得之。

Guai means 'breakthrough.' The firm grows and the yielding is nearly exhausted — therefore Guai. The way of deciding affairs values openness over concealment — proclaiming in the royal court is the meaning. Yet at peak strength one cannot rely on force, hence 'not advantageous to resort at once to arms' — to subdue with virtue, this is the proper attainment.

北宋 · 11th c.程頤《伊川易傳》Cheng Yi, Yichuan's Commentary on the YiScholarly

五陽君子併力以決一陰小人之卦也。決小人之道，當盡公而不可挾私；當至誠而不可施暴。「揚于王庭」者，事必公也；「告自邑」者，先正其身也；「不利即戎」者，戒輕用武也。

The hexagram of five yang gentlemen joining force to decide one yin small man. The way of dealing with small men: must be entirely public, never private; must be utterly sincere, never violent. 'Proclaim in the royal court' — the matter must be public. 'Announce from one's own city' — first rectify oneself. 'Not advantageous to resort at once to arms' — warning against light recourse to arms.

南宋 · 12th c.朱熹《周易本義》Zhu Xi, The Original Meaning of the Zhou YiScholarly

夬，決也，陽決陰也。三月之卦也。五陽方盛，將決一陰，決而過之，所以為夬。聖人於此戒以二事：一曰「揚于王庭」，明其公也；二曰「不利即戎」，戒其暴也。

Guai means 'decide' — yang deciding yin. The hexagram of the 3rd lunar month. Five yang at the height, about to decide one yin — deciding and going beyond, hence Guai. The sage gives two warnings here: first, 'proclaim in the royal court' establishes public-ness; second, 'not advantageous to resort at once to arms' guards against violence.

現代 Contemporary現代傳承（繼承倪海廈《天紀》象-first 讀法之精神，非逐字轉錄）Modern lineage (inheriting the spirit of the Tian Ji, not transcribing)Introductory

夬在十二消息卦裡排穀雨前後，五陽升到頂，只剩上頭一條陰，再走一步就是純陽的乾。到了該決斷的時候，卦辭卻先給兩道限制：「揚于王庭」，事情擺到明處辦；「不利即戎」，不可急著動武。決斷是決斷，暴力是暴力，夬把這兩件分得很開。爻位上九五「莧陸夬夬，中行无咎」是範本：除那條殘陰像拔莧菜一樣不費力，靠的是居中行道。九三「壯于頄」正好反照，怒氣寫在顴骨上，過剛則凶。大象「施祿及下，居德則忌」管的是姿態：強盛時儘管施與，一自居美德，就站上了我對你錯的高地，德反而失了。所以揭露也好，改革也好，夬給的路數是公開、有孚，先正己而後動，還要有眾人可號召。上六「无號，終有凶」，沒人應的孤軍，是此卦最忌。

Guai sits around Grain Rain, late April, in the twelve sovereign hexagrams: five yang lines risen to the top, one yin left above them, one step short of pure-yang Qian. The moment calls for a decisive break, yet the judgment opens with two restraints. Proclaim it in the royal court, meaning the matter is handled in the open; and it does not further one to take up arms at once. Decision is one thing, violence another, and Guai keeps them firmly apart. Among the lines, line five is the model: uprooting purslane, decisively, walking the middle, no blame. Removing that last yin takes no more force than pulling a soft weed, because the action stays centered. Line three, strength in the cheekbones, is the mirror image, anger showing on the face, hardness overdone, ending ill. The Great Image, bestow riches downward, but to dwell on one's virtue is taboo, governs the bearing: give freely at the height of strength, but the moment you claim the moral high ground of right against wrong, the virtue is already lost. So for exposure or reform, Guai's method runs public and in good faith, self-rectification before action, and with people ready to answer the call. The top line, no cry, in the end misfortune, is the lone fighter nobody answers, the outcome this hexagram warns against most.

注解Annotation6

夬guài

Break through, decide, cut off. Image: five yang lines pressing against one yin — the moment of decisive breakthrough. The character also implies 'parting' / 'severance.'

揚于王庭yáng yú wáng tíng

Proclaim in the royal court — bring matters into open public space rather than handle in private.

孚號fú hào

Sincere call / appeal. The mode of dealing with breakthrough — inviting, appealing — not commanding.

頄kuí

Cheekbone. Line 3's '壯于頄' — anger or strength visible on the face. The vice of showing too much.

莧陸xiàn lù

Purslane (a soft, easily-uprooted plant). Line 5's image: dealing with the last yin as easily as uprooting weeds.

牽羊qiān yáng

Lead a sheep. Line 4's image: in some traditions, sheep follow the leader without resistance — go with the flow rather than push.

歷史Context4

12 消息卦中的位置

Position in the 12-cycle

夬對應 3月（辰月，穀雨節氣）。從四陽的大壯（2月）到五陽的夬（3月）到純陽的乾（4月）—是陽接近巔峰的最後一步。決斷那條殘留陰爻之後，就是純陽。

Guai corresponds to the 3rd lunar month (Grain Rain — late April). From four-yang Great Strength (34, 2nd month) to five-yang Guai (3rd) to pure-yang Qian (1, 4th month) — the final step before yang's peak. After deciding the residual yin, pure yang follows.

與姤為綜卦

Inverse of Gou (44)

夬與 44 姤上下顛倒即為綜卦。夬是五陽從下上行決斷上面的陰；姤是同樣五陽一陰但陰在下、陽在上—一陰始生而將上行。讀夬必同時想姤—「決斷已將盡之陰」與「迎接剛起之陰」是同一對力量的兩種命運。

Guai and Gou (44) read upside-down — inverse hexagrams. Guai: five yang from below deciding the upper yin. Gou: same five-yang-one-yin pattern but inverted — yin below, yang above; one yin freshly emerged and rising. Reading Guai always implies reading Gou — 'deciding the dying yin' and 'meeting the newborn yin' are two fates of the same force-pattern.

「揚于王庭」的政治哲學

The political philosophy of 'proclaim in the royal court'

「揚于王庭」是中國政治哲學的重要原則：對抗 / 揭發 / 改革都必須在公開場合進行，不能在暗中操作。這一句在漢唐政治史中反覆被引用—諫議制度、言官制度、廷議傳統都與此卦教學相通。讀夬的政治應用對應到現代：透明、公開、accountable 的改革流程，而不是「黑箱」/ 「私下處理」。

'Proclaim in the royal court' is a core principle of Chinese political philosophy: confrontation / exposure / reform must take place in public, not in private operation. This phrase is repeatedly invoked in Han-Tang political history — the institutions of remonstrance, censorship-officials, and court-debate all align with this hexagram's teaching. Modern application: transparent, public, accountable reform processes, not 'back-room' or 'private handling.'

「不利即戎」的非暴力傳統

'Not advantageous to use arms' as nonviolent tradition

「不利即戎」一句與後世中國的非暴力傳統相通—從老子「兵者不祥之器」、孟子「以力服人者，非心服也」到近代甘地 / 馬丁路德金的非暴力抗爭—都在「決斷但不用暴力」的智慧脈絡內。讀夬卦是進入這條文化線。

'Not advantageous to use arms' connects with the later Chinese tradition of nonviolence — from Laozi's 'weapons are inauspicious tools,' Mencius's 'subduing by force is not heart-subduing,' to modern Gandhi / Martin Luther King's nonviolent resistance — all stand in the wisdom of 'decisive without violence.' Reading Guai enters this cultural line.

練習Practice3

line-read
你此刻有什麼需要「決斷」的事？是在哪一爻？是公開還是暗中處理？
What do you currently need to 'decisively break through'? Which line are you on? Public or private handling?
char-recall
辨認：夬、揚、孚、即、戎、莧。
Identify: 夬 (guài), 揚 (yáng), 孚 (fú), 即 (jí), 戎 (róng), 莧 (xiàn).
parse
為什麼卦辭強調「告自邑」？對抗之前為什麼要先在自己城邑公告？
Why does the judgment emphasize announcing from one's own city first? Why must self-rectification precede external action?