Hexagram 38 of 64
Opposition
kui · 睽
TL;DR
- ◈Hexagram 38, Opposition, is summarized by the Judgment: Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.
- ◈Its structure is Fire above Lake; read the trigram interaction before treating it as a simple label.
- ◈Core keywords: opposition, misunderstanding, contrast, diversity.
By the Numbers
- #38
- King Wen Order
- Opposition in the 64-hexagram sequence.
- 2
- Trigrams
- Fire above Lake.
- 6
- Lines
- Each hexagram is read from bottom to top.
Classical Context
Hexagram 38, Kuí (睽), is the hexagram of Opposition — the state when fire rises upward and lake water sinks downward, forces moving in opposite directions. Yet within this opposition lies a hidden truth: diversity creates completeness.
This expanded note is adapted from the long-form hexagram draft as cultural and textual context; a live reading still depends on the question, changing lines, and the full transformation pattern.
Six-Line Theme Map
I Ching lines are read from the bottom upward. This map runs from the initial line to the top line so the Judgment, Image, and moving-line position can be read together.
- L1
初九 · 悔亡丧马勿逐
Regret vanishes, don't chase the lost horse
- L2
九二 · 遇主于巷
Meeting the lord in a lane — no blame
- L3
六三 · 见舆曳
The carriage pulled back — cut off
- L4
九四 · 睽孤遇元夫
Isolated, meeting the original man — trust
- L5
六五 · 悔亡厥宗噬肤
Regret vanishes, allies bite through
- L6
上九 · 睽孤见豕
Isolated, seeing pigs and ghosts — then clarity
Deep Reading
Difference does not cancel connection
Kui places Fire above Lake: the two forces move in different directions. The Judgment says small matters are auspicious because opposition often cannot be solved by one grand unity; it is worked through by modest agreements that respect difference.
- •Fire rises while lake water gathers downward.
- •Small matters give opposition a workable scale.
- •The Image says the noble person is together yet different.
- •Diversity can complete a field when no side is forced to disappear.
Unexpected meetings in a divided field
Kui's lines repeatedly show connection arriving indirectly: the lost horse need not be chased, the lord is met in a lane, and allies can bite through obstruction. The danger is misperception: isolation can make ordinary signs look threatening.
- •Do not chase every loss in an oppositional moment.
- •The lane is a humble channel where formal routes may fail.
- •Kin or aligned allies can help break through what one person cannot digest alone.
- •The top line warns that suspicion can turn difference into projection.
Reading Kui in a live question
- Team disagreement
- Shrink the scope. Find one small shared task instead of forcing full agreement on values, style, or strategy.
- Relationship difference
- Respect difference before asking for unity. Look for a quiet lane of contact rather than a dramatic confrontation.
- Confusing signals
- Verify before reacting. In opposition, isolation can make partial information look more hostile than it is.
Source Notes
- Primary text
- This reading follows the Zhouyi Kui Judgment, Image, and line statements, especially small matters being auspicious, being together yet different, the lost horse, meeting in the lane, allied breakthrough, and misperception at the top.
- Zhouyi: Kui Judgment, Image, and line statements
- Method boundary
- Kui is a symbolic model for difference and partial connection. It should not be used to dismiss real harm or force reconciliation where boundaries are needed.
- CosmicTao editorial method note
Interpretation
No. Misalignment and misunderstanding — not the right time.
Upper Trigram
Fire
Lower Trigram
Lake
The Judgment (King Wen)
Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.
The Image
Above, fire; below, the lake: the image of Opposition.
Keywords
FAQ
What is Hexagram 38 (Opposition)?
Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.
What is the geometric structure of Hexagram 38?
Hexagram 38 acts with the upper trigram Fire and the lower trigram Lake.
What are the core themes of Opposition?
The core themes and meanings include: opposition, misunderstanding, contrast, diversity.