I Ching · Hexagram 64 of 64
64. Wèi Jì 未濟 · Before Completion
By Destiny Kua · Updated
Nearly there. Finish with care.
- Upper trigram
- Fire 離
- Lower trigram
- Water 坎
What hexagram 64 means
Wèi Jì shows fire above water: each goes its own way and they have not yet met. It is before completion, the final hexagram, and it ends the Book of Changes with a transition rather than a conclusion. The traditional image is a young fox that almost crosses the river but gets its tail wet. You are nearly there; finish with care.
Hexagram 64 in daily life
At work
The project is nearly done. Don't rush the final stage; that is where mistakes happen.
In relationships
You are close to understanding each other. Stay patient and attentive.
For yourself
Finish what you started carefully, and see every ending as a new beginning.
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 | Getting the tail wet. Starting too soon brings embarrassment. |
| Line 2 | Braking the wheels. Holding back now brings good fortune. |
| Line 3 | Before completion, attacking brings misfortune, yet crossing the great river is favourable. Prepare, then go. |
| Line 4 | Persistence brings good fortune; regret disappears. A bold effort is rewarded in time. |
| Line 5 | Persistence brings good fortune, no regret. The light of the wise is true. |
| Line 6 | Drinking wine in confident celebration: no blame. But if you get your head wet, you lose what you gained. |
The two trigrams
The lower trigram, Water 坎 (Kǎn), stands for your inner state and the root of the situation. The upper trigram, Fire 離 (Lí), stands for the outer circumstances. In element terms this is Fire over Water. Water is the trigram of Kua 1 and Fire is the trigram of Kua 9.
Related hexagrams
- Opposite (every line changed): 63. Jì Jì 既濟 · After Completion
- Inverted (read upside down): 63. Jì Jì 既濟 · After Completion
Questions to reflect on
- What remains unfinished?
- What is the final careful step?
- What new beginning waits beyond this ending?
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.