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.