Hexagram 43: Breakthrough
Resolution, decisive action
| Chinese | 夬 (Guài) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☱ Lake — The Joyous (Metal) |
| Lower trigram | ☰ Heaven — The Creative (Metal) |
| Keywords | breakthrough, resolution, determination, truth |
| Opposite | Hexagram 23: Splitting Apart |
| Inverted | Hexagram 44: Coming to Meet |
What does Hexagram 43 (Breakthrough) mean?
Breakthrough 夬 (Guài) is hexagram 43 of the I Ching, formed by Lake (The Joyous) over Heaven (The Creative). Its theme is resolution, decisive action, with key ideas of breakthrough, resolution, determination, truth. The Judgment reads: “Breakthrough. One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king.”
The Judgment of Breakthrough
Breakthrough. One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king.
The Image of Breakthrough
The lake has risen up to heaven.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 43
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“Mighty in the forward-striding toes. When one goes and is not equal to the task, one makes a mistake.”
Aggressive advance from the outset without adequate readiness leads to error. Energy without preparation does not constitute breakthrough.
Nine in the second place
“A cry of alarm. Arms at evening and at night. Fear nothing.”
Vigilance maintained through the night — readiness for what might come — is the correct posture. Alert preparation dissolves fear.
Nine in the third place
“To be powerful in the cheekbones brings misfortune. The superior man is firmly resolved. He walks alone and is caught in the rain. He is bespattered, and people murmur against him. No blame.”
Forceful confrontation without proper timing invites hostility and misunderstanding. The resolute person persists alone through discomfort; the murmuring of others is no measure of blame.
Nine in the fourth place
“There is no skin on his thighs, and walking comes hard. If a man were to let himself be led like a sheep, remorse would disappear. But if these words are heard, they will not be believed.”
Proceeding despite injury is painful but possible if one lets go of self-direction and follows what is right. Stubborn independence in this condition brings regret that yielding would dissolve.
Nine in the fifth place
“In dealing with weeds, firm resolution is necessary. Walking in the middle remains free of blame.”
Eliminating persistent inferior influences requires both determination and moderation. Neither too harsh nor too lenient, the middle way clears the ground.
Six at the top
“No cry. In the end misfortune comes.”
Failing to sound the alarm at the final moment — when vigilance is most critical — allows the last remnant of danger to inflict its wound. Complacency at completion is the greatest error.
Will Breakthrough answer your question?
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