第六十三卦：《既济卦》
六十四卦之中，唯有既济卦，六爻阳阴各得其位：三阳爻居阳位，秩序井然；三阴爻处阴位，位置得正。既济卦象征事物即将或已经处于完满状态。《易》之奥义，正在于变，终即再始。万事万物，皆循“由缺而盈，由盈而亏”的轨迹，往复不息，周而复始。
筮得此卦，若事在初兴之际，意味着成功在望，吉祥可期；若已至功成名就、圆满显现之时，则预示盛极而衰的隐忧，稍有失守，便可能由治入乱、由成转败。
水满则溢，月圆则亏。成功来临之际，最忌骄矜自满而不知进退。惟有守正持中，方可保盈而不亏；一念放纵，便易招致混乱。以朴素之心行祭，以诚敬之意祷告，方能蒙受上天之佑，使亨通得以延续。
既济卦以渡河为喻，哲理井然，神机昭然：初九至六四，步步谨慎，小心戒惧；至九五，功成志满，心生骄矜，敬畏渐失；及至上六，沉湎享乐，昏昧无度，终至失足坠河。前期之所以吉祥，源于敬神守德、质朴自持；后期之所以衰败，正因失却诫勉、摒弃敬畏。
既济之所以为戒，不在未成，而正在已成；不惧不足，惧在自满。
诗曰：既济阴阳位已全，功成之际当敬虔；人若忘却上帝约，渡尽长河复入渊。
既济：亨小，利贞；初吉终乱。
【释卦】《既济卦》象征成功与完成。“亨小”，意指不宜奢求宏大祭祀，只适合朴素、节制、诚敬的祷告与行动；“利贞”，唯有守正、安分、持守正道，方可获益；“初吉终乱”，万事圆满之后，往往潜伏衰败与混乱的危机。
《彖》曰：既济亨，小者亨也。利贞，刚柔正而位当也。初吉，柔得中也。终止则乱，其道穷也。
【释彖】既济之所以亨通，是因为祷告与行为恰如其分。不奢求，不贪心，只求合乎天意。
“利贞”，在于刚柔相济、各守其位——强者不僭越，柔者不失中。“初吉”源于秩序初成、敬畏尚存；“终乱”，则因成功之道走到尽头，人心松懈，敬畏消失，骄傲从而导致秩序崩塌。圆满并非终点，而是危险的起点。
《象》曰：“水在火上，既济；君子以思患而预防之。
【释象】《既济卦》，离（火）下，坎（水）上，水在火上，形成一种暂时平衡的成功表象。然而水火本性相克，此种状态并非稳固。君子在成功之时，应有忧患意识，防微杜渐，未雨绸缪。真正的智慧，不仅是如何取胜，更在于如何防败。
初九，曳其轮，濡其尾，无咎。
【释爻】轮通假纶。纶为腰带之穗。尾，衣服后面的假尾。
初九渡河，提起衣裙腰带，只湿衣服尾边，成功抵达彼岸。因为谨慎自持，所以没有灾祸。
《象》曰：“曳其轮”，义无咎也。
【释象】谨慎行事，自然无灾祸。
《圣经》：箴言 16:3 你所做的，要交托耶和华，你所谋的，就必成立。
【神启】初九之“无咎”，并非因能力，而因交托与谨慎。这是“信心的起步”，尚未自信，尚存依靠。
【史鉴】文王拘羑里而不乱其志；纣王烹其子而不乱其心。
六二，妇丧其茀，勿逐，七日得。
【释爻】六二，妇人丢失乘车的遮帘，不必回头去找，七日之后，物归原主。
《象》曰：“七日得”，以中道也。
【释爻】六二，阴爻处阴位，证明为人贤淑温和，人缘颇佳。丢失物品，得人心之助，故失而复得。不是追逐、不是焦虑，而是相信神的时间与安排。
《圣经》马太福音 6:33 你们要先求他的国和他的义，这一切都必加给你们。
【神启】六二体现顺服。不追逐、不焦虑，而是相信神的时间与安排。
九三，高宗伐鬼方，三年克之；小人勿用。
【释爻】九三，殷高宗武丁，征伐西北的鬼方国，三年才攻克；急躁冒进的小人不可重用。
《象》曰：“三年克之”惫也。
【释象】九三，阳爻阳位，阳刚有余而阴柔不足，且用人不当，虽然成功，但国力空虚，士民疲惫。
《圣经》路加福音 14:11 因为凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高。
【神启】靠血气得胜，却付出灵魂与肉体的疲惫。
【史鉴】隋炀帝三征高句丽，民疲国竭而终亡国。大英帝国的布尔战争（1899–1902）英国最终取胜，但国力、道德声誉、社会共识严重受损。“克之”却“惫也”。
六四，繻有衣袽，终日戒。
【释爻】六四，乘船渡河，预备破布棉絮，以防船仓漏水，终日保持警觉。
《象》曰：“终日戒”有所疑也。
【释象】保持警戒，心存敬畏，有忧患意识。
《圣经》彼得前书 5:8 务要谨守，警醒；你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。
【神启】六四是《既济》中最接近“圣徒姿态”的一爻：成功在前，危险在侧，因此终日警戒。
【史鉴】诸葛亮六出祁连山，鞠躬尽瘁死而后已。艾森豪威尔对“军工复合体”的警告（1961）身为胜利将军，却提醒国家提防权力膨胀。
九五，东邻杀牛，不如西郊之禴祭，实受其福。
【释爻】九五，东邻杀牛宰羊，举行盛大祭礼，不如西邻简朴的祭祀，真诚的祷告，实在蒙神赐福。
《象》曰：“东邻杀牛”，不如西邻之时也；“实受其福”，吉大来也。
【释象】东邻搞排场，花天酒地，但不真诚；西邻讲实效，简单朴素，却非常敬虔。西邻蒙神接纳，吉祥大大降临，福分实实在在。神不喜人之奢华，只悦人之诚心。
《圣经》撒母耳记上 15:22 听命胜于献祭，顺从胜于公羊的脂油。
【神启】简朴、真实、谦卑的敬拜，胜过盛大却空洞的宗教仪式。
【史鉴】西伯侯祭祀上天，励精图治；殷纣王骄奢横溢，亵渎上帝。
上六，濡其首，厉。
【释爻】初九为尾，上六为首。初九谨慎，成功渡河；上六骄横，坠入河中。
《象》曰：“濡其道，厉”，何可久也！
【释爻】上六，被胜利冲昏头脑，沉溺于酒色财气，危险。这样的成功，怎么能够长久呢？
《圣经》箴言 16:18 败坏以先，必有骄傲；跌倒之前，必有狂心。
【神启】人往往是被成功毁灭。人因敬畏而得胜，却因骄傲而沉没。
Hexagram 63: Ji Ji (Already Fulfilled / Completion)
Among the sixty-four hexagrams, only Ji Ji has each of its six lines in proper position: the three yang lines occupy yang positions, orderly and harmonious; the three yin lines occupy yin positions, each in its proper place. The Ji Ji hexagram symbolizes matters that are approaching or have reached completion. The ultimate meaning of the I Ching lies in transformation: the end is the beginning again. All things follow the trajectory of “from deficiency to fullness, from fullness to decline,” cycling endlessly, returning in perpetual motion.
If this hexagram appears in divination at the initial stage of a matter, it signifies that success is in sight and auspiciousness is expected. If it appears at a time when achievements are complete and matters are fulfilled, it warns of the hidden risk of decline: a small misstep could turn order into chaos, and success into failure.
When water overflows, it spills; when the moon is full, it wanes. At the moment of success, the greatest danger is pride and complacency, failing to know when to advance or retreat. Only by maintaining correctness and moderation can one preserve fullness without loss; a single indulgent thought can easily bring chaos. Conduct rituals with simplicity and pray with sincere respect to receive heavenly blessings and maintain continued prosperity.
Ji Ji uses crossing a river as a metaphor, presenting philosophy in a clear and profound way: from Initial Nine to Line Six Four, one must be cautious and vigilant at every step; at Line Nine Five, success is achieved, ambition fulfilled, and awe begins to fade; at Upper Six, indulgence and confusion lead to ruin, culminating in falling into the river. Early success arises from reverence and self-restraint; later failure results from abandoning warnings and losing respect.
The warning of Ji Ji is not about what is incomplete, but about what is complete; the danger lies not in insufficiency, but in self-satisfaction.
Poetic Summary:
In Ji Ji, yin and yang are complete; at the moment of success, maintain reverence.
If people forget the covenant of God, they may cross the river only to fall into the abyss again.
Judgment: Ji Ji – Small success; benefit in perseverance; initial auspiciousness, eventual disorder.
Interpretation: The Ji Ji hexagram represents success and completion. “Small success” suggests avoiding extravagance, favoring simple, restrained, and sincere prayers and actions. “Benefit in perseverance” means only by maintaining correctness, moderation, and adherence to the proper path can one truly benefit. “Initial auspiciousness, eventual disorder” warns that after fulfillment, hidden risks of decline and chaos often lurk.
Commentary (Tuan): Ji Ji prospers because actions and prayers are appropriately measured. One does not seek extravagance or greed, only alignment with Heaven’s will.
“Benefit in perseverance” lies in balancing strength and gentleness, with each line in its proper place—strength does not overstep, gentleness does not falter. “Initial auspiciousness” arises from order and reverence; “eventual disorder” occurs when the path of success reaches its limit, hearts grow lax, awe disappears, and pride collapses order. Completion is not the end; it is the beginning of danger.
Image (Xiang): Water above fire: Ji Ji. The noble person anticipates difficulties and takes precautions.
Interpretation: Ji Ji features fire below (Li) and water above (Kan). Water over fire creates a temporary balance, symbolizing apparent success. Yet water and fire are naturally opposing, so this state is inherently unstable. The noble person, in times of success, maintains awareness of potential dangers, addressing problems early. True wisdom lies not only in achieving victory, but in preventing failure.
Line Analysis:
Initial Nine: Dragging the wheel, wetting the tail, no blame.
To cross the river, lift clothing and belt, only the garment’s edge gets wet, safely reaching the other side. Caution prevents misfortune.
Image: “Dragging the wheel” signifies careful action naturally avoiding disaster.
Biblical parallel: Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”
Divine insight: Success comes not from skill alone, but from trust and carefulness.
Line Six Two: The woman loses her curtain; do not pursue; it will be recovered in seven days.
A woman loses the screen of her carriage; there is no need to chase after it. Seven days later, it is returned.
Image: “Recovered in seven days” signifies following the middle way.
Divine insight: Patience and faith in divine timing lead to restoration without anxiety.
Biblical parallel: Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.”
Line Nine Three: King Gao campaigns against Gui Fang, conquering in three years; do not employ petty men.
Yang line in yang position: strength without proper balance. Success is achieved, but at great exhaustion.
Image: “Conquered in three years” signifies weariness.
Divine insight: Victory through force alone drains spirit and body.
Biblical parallel: Luke 14:11 – “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Historical reference: Emperor Yang of Sui’s campaigns drained the state; British victory in the Boer War exhausted resources and damaged moral authority.
Line Six Four: Prepared with cloth and wadding, remain vigilant all day.
Crossing the river by boat, prepared for potential leaks, maintaining vigilance throughout.
Image: “Vigilant all day” signifies careful caution.
Biblical parallel: 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Divine insight: Even with success, danger is nearby; vigilance is the stance of the saint.
Historical reference: Zhuge Liang’s campaigns; Eisenhower warning of military-industrial complex.
Line Nine Five: Sacrifice in the east is grand but empty; simple offerings in the west are truly blessed.
Extravagance without sincerity is less effective than humble, sincere devotion.
Image: True blessing comes from sincerity, not pomp.
Biblical parallel: 1 Samuel 15:22 – “To obey is better than sacrifice; to listen than the fat of rams.”
Upper Six: Wetting the head; danger.
Overconfidence and indulgence after success lead to disaster.
Image: Excessive pride and pleasure make success unsustainable.
Biblical parallel: Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Divine insight: Success without humility invites downfall.
Historical reference: Louis XVI’s decadence leading to the French Revolution.
