I Ching · Hexagram 48 of 64
48. Jǐng 井 · The Well
By Destiny Kua · Updated
A lasting source. Maintain what nourishes everyone.
- Upper trigram
- Water 坎
- Lower trigram
- Wind 巽
What hexagram 48 means
Jǐng shows water drawn up by a wooden bucket: the well. Towns move but the well stays. It is a lasting source that nourishes everyone. The traditional advice is to keep it clean, maintained and accessible, because a broken rope or a leaking bucket wastes a good source.
Hexagram 48 in daily life
At work
Maintain core systems, knowledge and resources. Make them accessible to the whole team.
In relationships
Be a reliable source of support. Deep connection needs regular care.
For yourself
Tend your inner source: rest, reflection, what truly sustains you.
The six changing lines
If your cast included changing lines (a 6 or a 9), read the matching lines below. Line 1 is the bottom line.
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Line 1 | A muddy well: no one drinks. An old, neglected source is abandoned. |
| Line 2 | Shooting fish in the well, the jug leaks. Your abilities are wasted on small things. |
| Line 3 | The well is clean but no one drinks. It is a sorrow; a good leader would draw from it. |
| Line 4 | The well is being relined. Repair work now; no blame. |
| Line 5 | A clear, cold spring. Drink freely. |
| Line 6 | The well is open and dependable. Don't cover it: great good fortune. |
The two trigrams
The lower trigram, Wind 巽 (Xùn), stands for your inner state and the root of the situation. The upper trigram, Water 坎 (Kǎn), stands for the outer circumstances. In element terms this is Water over Wood. Wind is the trigram of Kua 4 and Water is the trigram of Kua 1.
Related hexagrams
- Opposite (every line changed): 21. Shì Hé 噬嗑 · Biting Through
- Inverted (read upside down): 47. Kùn 困 · Oppression
- Trigrams swapped: 59. Huàn 渙 · Dispersion
Questions to reflect on
- What source nourishes me and others?
- Is my well clean, or neglected?
- Who needs access to what I have?
Our line summaries are written in plain English in our own words, based on the traditional meanings. For reflection and entertainment, not prediction or professional advice.