I Ching · Hexagram 48 of 64
Hexagram 48: Jing （井） — The Well
Jing is Water over Wind: wind is wood, and water upon wood is a bucket lifting water up, so that the well rises from below. After Oppression, where the lake had no water, one turns downward and digs, for when heaven sends no rain the earth must be opened. The well stands for a steady livelihood, and the hexagram rises from the well of food and salary to the well of merit and virtue.
At a glance
| Hexagram | 48 of 64 |
|---|---|
| Name | Jing 井 · The Well |
| Upper trigram | Kan （坎）· Water |
| Lower trigram | Xun （巽）· Wind |
| Structure | Water over Wind |
| Lines | 6 lines |
The Judgment （卦辞）
The Well. The town may be changed, the well cannot be changed. No loss, no gain; going and coming, they come to the well. Almost arriving, but the rope has not yet reached the water, and his pitcher is broken: misfortune.
ExplainedThe well follows the person: change the town and dig again, and it is the same well, for such is one's blessing. Do not change work endlessly, since changing place does not change destiny and nothing is gained or lost; rather settle into the well before you. Almost there but unwilling to draw is to give up at the last inch, and the broken pitcher is the body ruined by running about. Money comes from giving and not from grasping, so do not ruin the body for money.
Tuan Zhuan — Commentary on the Judgment （彖传）
It enters the water and raises the water: The Well. The well nourishes and is not exhausted. The town may be changed, the well cannot be changed: this is because of firmness and centrality. Almost arriving but the rope has not yet reached the water: there is no merit. His pitcher is broken: therefore misfortune.
ExplainedThe yielding enters the water and draws it up, and so the well nourishes people without ever running dry. Both central lines are firm yang: where the center is kept, the well of nourishment is inexhaustible wherever one goes, for heaven sends its god of blessing with the salary. Inconstancy and endless moving only exhaust and ruin the body; to give up at the last moment is to have no merit, and the broken pitcher is why the outcome is bad.
Xiang Zhuan — Image Commentary （大象）
Water upon wood: The Well. Thus the noble one labors with the people and encourages mutual aid.
ExplainedA bucket upon wood with water rising is the well, and someone must labor to raise it. There is karma in life, and livelihood must be won by labor, as in the sweat of the brow, and labor itself clears karma. Best of all is to do the work of vows and merit, for merit can be carried away while money cannot.
The Six Lines （六爻）
The lines are read from the bottom upward. Each carries its own text, a Small Image commentary, and a plain-English reading.
Line 1 · YinLine 1
The well is muddy and undrinkable; the old well has no birds.
Small ImageThe well is muddy and undrinkable: it is low. The old well has no birds: the time casts it off.
ExplainedMuddy water no one drinks and an abandoned well no bird visits: to pick up what others have built, taking over another's shop or a dying factory, is labor in vain. The lowered water is a lowered character, laziness and decline, and where virtue does not match the blessing the blessing cannot be enjoyed. Raise your character and do not be idle.
Line 2 · YangLine 2
He shoots fish in the well's hollow, and the jug is broken and leaks.
Small ImageShooting fish in the well's hollow: no one supports him.
ExplainedTo fish in the well's bottom with an earthen jug that breaks on the way is to confuse the roles: coming to the hall not to cultivate but to make money, or to court a partner, or to solicit votes. In the end nothing is gained and the reputation is ruined, for every community dispenses with such a person; each should play the part that belongs to him.
Line 3 · YangLine 3
The well is cleaned but no one drinks; this grieves my heart. It could be drawn from: if the king were enlightened, all would receive its blessing.
Small ImageThe well is cleaned but no one drinks: the act is pitiable. Seeking an enlightened king: to receive blessing.
ExplainedA clear well no one draws from leaves the heart grieved, and such is the able person of clean and incorruptible character, desire removed and principle preserved, left in the wilderness. When the ruler is enlightened he raises and employs the worthy, and all share the blessing; and this is where the well of food and salary becomes the well of merit and virtue, whose water nourishes the spirit.
Line 4 · YinLine 4
The well is lined: no blame.
Small ImageThe well is lined, no blame: the well is repaired.
ExplainedTo line the well is to repair it, and to repair it is no blame. So heaven raises the worthy, teachers and elders and masters, to repair the well: teaching people to repent before the holy and turn from evil to good. Then the well yields the water of merit, and the first of merits is to abstain from taking life.
Line 5 · YangLine 5
The well is clear; the cold spring is drunk.
Small ImageDrinking from the cold spring: central and upright.
ExplainedThe cold spring is wisdom: to drink of it is to be cool and free of care, released from birth and death. Those who drink are made central and upright, guarding the central gate within and acting rightly without, hearing the water of the teaching at the guarded gate, opening wisdom, keeping the one when there is nothing to do and doing the work when there is work.
Line 6 · YinLine 6
Draw up the well and do not cover it: with sincerity, great good fortune.
Small ImageGreat good fortune above: the great completion.
ExplainedDraw up the water and do not cover the well, for a spring that flows need not be closed: whoever digs and finds the spring, the great merit, must share it. One who cultivates blessing and wisdom gives both to others, and then the labor is done and only sincerity remains, the holding of the one. Great good fortune at the top is the great completion, the perfection of the sage.
Key takeaway
The Well teaches a steady livelihood, and rises from the well of food and salary to the well of merit and virtue.
Frequently asked questions
What does Hexagram 48 (Jing) mean in the I Ching?
Jing is Water over Wind: wind is wood, and water upon wood is a bucket lifting water up, so that the well rises from below. After Oppression, where the lake had no water, one turns downward and digs, for when heaven sends no rain the earth must be opened. The well stands for a steady livelihood, and the hexagram rises from the well of food and salary to the well of merit and virtue.
What is the judgment of Hexagram 48?
The Well. The town may be changed, the well cannot be changed. No loss, no gain; going and coming, they come to the well. Almost arriving, but the rope has not yet reached the water, and his pitcher is broken: misfortune. The well follows the person: change the town and dig again, and it is the same well, for such is one's blessing. Do not change work endlessly, since changing place does not change destiny and nothing is gained or lost; rather settle into the well before you. Almost there but unwilling to draw is to give up at the last…
What do the six lines of Hexagram 48 say?
Line 1: The well is muddy and undrinkable; the old well has no birds. Line 2: He shoots fish in the well's hollow, and the jug is broken and leaks. Line 3: The well is cleaned but no one drinks; this grieves my heart. It could be drawn from: if the king were enlightened, all would receive its blessing. Line 4: The well is lined: no blame. Line 5: The well is clear; the cold spring is drunk. Line 6: Draw up the well and do not cover it: with sincerity, great good fortune.
What is the main lesson of Hexagram 48 (The Well)?
The Well teaches a steady livelihood, and rises from the well of food and salary to the well of merit and virtue.
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