Hexagram 54: The Marrying Maiden
Subordination, unconventional partnership
| Chinese | 歸妹 (Guī Mèi) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☳ Thunder — The Arousing (Wood) |
| Lower trigram | ☱ Lake — The Joyous (Metal) |
| Keywords | relationship, subordination, patience, acceptance |
| Opposite | Hexagram 53: Development |
| Inverted | Hexagram 53: Development |
What does Hexagram 54 (The Marrying Maiden) mean?
The Marrying Maiden 歸妹 (Guī Mèi) is hexagram 54 of the I Ching, formed by Thunder (The Arousing) over Lake (The Joyous). Its theme is subordination, unconventional partnership, with key ideas of relationship, subordination, patience, acceptance. The Judgment reads: “The Marrying Maiden. Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.”
The Judgment of The Marrying Maiden
The Marrying Maiden. Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.
The Image of The Marrying Maiden
Thunder over the lake.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 54
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“The marrying maiden as a concubine. A lame man who is able to tread. Undertakings bring good fortune.”
Beginning in a secondary position need not prevent effective action. Constraints acknowledged honestly allow forward movement within them.
Nine in the second place
“A one-eyed man who is able to see. The perseverance of a solitary man furthers.”
Impaired vision does not prevent seeing. The one who works steadily within their limitations, without self-pity, advances.
Six in the third place
“The marrying maiden as a slave. She marries as a concubine.”
Lowering one's expectations and accepting an inferior position — when the full role is unavailable — is sometimes the only way to find any place at all.
Nine in the fourth place
“The marrying maiden draws out the allotted time. A late marriage comes in due time.”
Patient waiting for the right moment rather than forcing a premature arrangement yields the proper, lasting union. What comes at the right time is right.
Six in the fifth place
“The sovereign I gave his daughter in marriage. The embroidered garments of the princess were not as gorgeous as those of the serving maid. The moon that is nearly full brings good fortune.”
Genuine inner quality outshines external ornamentation. Nearness to completion — the almost-full moon — is the ideal state of mature readiness without excess.
Six at the top
“The woman holds the basket, but there are no fruits in it. The man stabs the sheep, but no blood flows. Nothing that acts to further.”
Going through the forms of relationship without genuine substance or vitality produces nothing. Empty ritual neither nourishes nor binds.
Will The Marrying Maiden answer your question?
Cast the three coins yourself — the I Ching reading is free, no account needed.
Cast the I Ching →