Hexagram 48
The Well
井 (Jǐng)
Water over Wind/Wood
The image is of a wooden bucket descending into water. Wood (the lower trigram) represents the structure of the well—the lining and the bucket—while Water (the upper trigram) is the nourishing source itself. This hexagram symbolizes the deep, unchanging foundations of life and community. A well provides constant, life-sustaining nourishment, but only if the structure for drawing the water is sound.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
The Judgment emphasizes that the source of nourishment—be it spiritual truth, community values, or organizational mission—is constant and unchanging, even as societies shift around it. This source is available to all. However, the hexagram carries a crucial warning: the infrastructure used to access this source must be sound. If your means of reaching the truth (the rope) or containing it (the jug) are faulty, the entire effort is wasted and leads to misfortune.
The Image (象传)
A well is a central point that nourishes the entire community and often requires collective effort to maintain. The superior person sees this and understands the importance of mutual aid and cooperation. They encourage people in their daily tasks and inspire them to work together for the common good. The well teaches a lesson in social organization and the shared responsibility for maintaining the structures that sustain everyone.
Interpretation & Guidance
Receiving this hexagram asks you to look at the deep, foundational sources of nourishment in your life. This could be your core values, your family, your community, or the mission of your organization. This source is reliable. Your task is to examine the "infrastructure" you use to access it. Are your methods sound? Is your discipline strong? Is your equipment in good repair? This is a time to focus on fundamentals, repair what is broken, and encourage cooperation to ensure that the life-giving water can be drawn by all.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"One does not drink the mud of the well. No animals come to an old well."
The well has fallen into disuse and is choked with mud. It is useless as a source of nourishment. This represents a neglected resource or a person whose character has decayed to the point that no one seeks their counsel or companionship.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"In the well one shoots at fish. The jug is broken and leaks."
A resource is being misused and wasted. The well is not being used for drinking but for sport. Furthermore, the tool for drawing the water (the jug) is broken. This represents a situation where a valuable source is not being properly utilized or respected.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"The well is cleaned, but no one drinks from it. This is a sorrow... If the king were clear-minded, good fortune might be enjoyed by all."
The well itself is in perfect condition, clean and ready to provide water. However, due to a failure of leadership or communication, nobody is using it. It is a tragedy of a valuable, available resource being ignored. The potential for nourishment is there, but it is not being realized.
Six in the Fourth Place (六四)
Fourth line - Yin
"The well is being lined. No blame."
This is a time of necessary repairs and maintenance. You are working on the infrastructure—lining the well—to make it safe and usable again. This is a practical, blameless, and highly beneficial activity. You are tending to the foundations.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五)
Fifth line - Yang
"In the well there is a clear, cold spring from which one can drink."
This represents the ideal state of the well. The structure is sound, and the water is pure, cool, and life-giving. This signifies a reliable, perfectly functioning source of nourishment—be it a great leader, a sound organization, or a deep inner truth—that is available to all.
Top Six (上六)
Top line - Yin
"One draws from the well without hindrance. It is dependable. Supreme good fortune."
The well is open, the rope and bucket are ready, and anyone can freely draw water without issue. This represents the perfected state of a nourishing source. It is reliable, accessible, and endlessly giving. This is a sign of the highest good fortune, representing a life or system that dependably nourishes all.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
The Well points to the deep, foundational source of your relationship. Is this source being tapped? Are you both able to draw nourishment and support from it? This hexagram asks you to look at the "infrastructure" of your partnership—your communication, trust, and shared values. It is a time to repair any broken "ropes" or "jugs" to ensure the life-giving connection remains strong and accessible to you both.
Career & Business (事业)
In business, this hexagram concerns the core infrastructure and values of the organization. The "well" is the company's mission, its culture, and the fundamental systems that allow it to function. Is this well clean and accessible to all employees? Are the systems (the "lining") in good repair? It is a time to focus not on flashy new projects, but on ensuring the basic structure is sound so that everyone can be productive and nourished by their work.
Health & Wellness (健康)
The Well directs your attention to the absolute fundamentals of your health. It is the deep source of your vitality. Are you providing your body with the basics—clean water, pure food, rest, fresh air? Have your daily habits and routines—the "infrastructure" of your health—fallen into disrepair? This is a time to go back to the source, clean up your diet, repair your routines, and ensure you can draw on your natural wellspring of energy.
Financial Matters (财运)
This hexagram advises you to look at your primary, reliable source of income. This is your financial "well." Is it secure? Is it well-maintained? Rather than seeking risky new ventures, focus on the stability and reliability of your core financial situation. Ensure your budget, your savings plan, and your main source of income (the "infrastructure") are sound and dependable.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
The lesson of The Well is about connecting to the deep, unchanging sources of wisdom—within yourself, your culture, and humanity. While life on the surface may change, the wellspring of truth is constant. Growth comes from maintaining the "infrastructure" needed to access this source: your discipline, your study habits, your spiritual practices. It is about becoming a reliable person yourself, a deep well from which others can draw nourishment and inspiration.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
This is a time to focus on foundations and infrastructure. Do not be concerned with superficial changes. Instead, look to the deep, reliable sources of nourishment in your life and community. Check if the means to access these sources are in good repair. Fix what is broken. Clean what is muddied. Encourage cooperation. By tending to the well, you ensure a constant supply of life-giving water for the future.
