Hexagram 48: The Well
Source, nourishment, community resource
| Chinese | 井 (Jǐng) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☵ Water — The Abysmal (Water) |
| Lower trigram | ☴ Wind — The Gentle (Wood) |
| Keywords | source, nourishment, community, depth |
| Opposite | Hexagram 21: Biting Through |
| Inverted | Hexagram 47: Oppression |
What does Hexagram 48 (The Well) mean?
The Well 井 (Jǐng) is hexagram 48 of the I Ching, formed by Water (The Abysmal) over Wind (The Gentle). Its theme is source, nourishment, community resource, with key ideas of source, nourishment, community, depth. The Judgment reads: “The Well. The town may be changed, but the well cannot be changed.”
The Judgment of The Well
The Well. The town may be changed, but the well cannot be changed.
The Image of The Well
Water over wood: the image of the Well.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 48
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Six at the beginning
“One does not drink the mud of the well. No animals come to an old well.”
A source that has been neglected and become contaminated serves no one. Abandon what is no longer nourishing; seek what is clear and alive.
Nine in the second place
“At the well hole one shoots fishes. The jug is broken and leaks.”
Using an irreplaceable resource frivolously, or relying on a vessel that cannot hold, wastes the gift of the source. Misuse and inadequate vessels together produce the same result: nothing reaches those who need it.
Nine in the third place
“The well is cleaned, but no one drinks from it. This is my heart's sorrow. One might draw from it. If the king were clear-minded, good fortune might be enjoyed in common.”
A source fully prepared and clear, yet overlooked by those who could benefit, is a tragedy. Unrecognised potential awaits only the discernment of those in authority.
Six in the fourth place
“The well is being lined. No blame.”
Repairing and strengthening the vessel of nourishment — even when it temporarily interrupts service — is necessary maintenance, not failure.
Nine in the fifth place
“In the well there is a clear, cold spring from which one can drink. Good fortune.”
The source is pure, accessible, and life-giving. What is genuinely nourishing, clear, and available to all is the highest form of the well.
Six at the top
“One draws from the well without hindrance. It is dependable. Supreme good fortune.”
The fully realised well — inexhaustible, freely accessible, completely reliable — is the image of the sage whose wisdom nourishes all without diminishment.
Will The Well answer your question?
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