Wei Chi / Before Completion

above: Li The Clinging, Flame
below: K'an The Abysmal, Water

Wei Chi intimates progress and success (in the circumstances which it implies). (We see) a young fox that has nearly crossed (the stream), when its tail gets immersed. There will be no advantage in any way.

Overall Meaning

Not quite up to accomplishment, the symbol of what is not yet accomplished

Wei Chi is the opposite of Ki Chi. The name tells us that the successful accomplishment of whatever the writer had in his mind has not yet been realized. The vessel of the state has not been brought across the great and dangerous stream. Some have wished that the I might have concluded with Ki Chi, and the last hexagram have left us with a picture of human affairs all brought to good order. But this would not have been in harmony with the idea of the I, as the book of change. Again and again it has been pointed out that we find in it no idea of a perfect and abiding state. Just as the seasons of the year change and pursue an ever-recurring round, so is it with the phases of society. The reign of order has been, and has terminated; and this hexagram calls us to see the struggle for its realization recommenced. It treats of how those engaged in that struggle should conduct themselves with a view to secure the happy consummation.

How the figure sets forth the state of things by its constituent trigrams will appear in Appendix II. A similar indication is supposed to be given by the lines, not one of which is in the correct place; the strong lines being all in even places, and the weak lines in odd. At the same time each of them has a proper correlate; and so the figure gives an intimation of some successful progress.

The symbolism of the young fox suggests a want of caution on the part of those, in the time and condition denoted by the hexagram, who try to remedy prevailing disorders. Their attempt is not successful, and they get themselves into trouble and danger. Whatever can be done must be undertaken in another way.