Hexagram 40 of 64
Deliverance
xie · 解
TL;DR
- ◈Hexagram 40, Deliverance, is summarized by the Judgment: Deliverance. The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune.
- ◈Its structure is Thunder above Water; read the trigram interaction before treating it as a simple label.
- ◈Core keywords: liberation, relief, forgiveness, release.
By the Numbers
- #40
- King Wen Order
- Deliverance in the 64-hexagram sequence.
- 2
- Trigrams
- Thunder above Water.
- 6
- Lines
- Each hexagram is read from bottom to top.
Classical Context
Hexagram 40, Xiè (解), is the hexagram of Deliverance — the relief that follows obstruction, the thaw after the freeze. Composed of Zhèn (☳ Thunder) above and Kǎn (☵ Water) below: thunder breaks through the danger of deep water, releasing the tension. The crisis is over; the path clears.
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
初六 · 无咎
No blame — relief at the start
- L2
九二 · 田获三狐得黄矢
Catching three foxes with yellow arrows
- L3
六三 · 负且乘致寇至
Carrying while riding — inviting robbers
- L4
九四 · 解而拇
Deliver your thumbs — free yourself
- L5
六五 · 君子维有解
The noble person has deliverance
- L6
上六 · 公用射隼于高墉
Shooting the hawk from the high wall
Deep Reading
Deliverance after obstruction
Xie follows Jian in the King Wen Sequence, so its release is not abstract. Thunder above Water shows tension breaking open after danger. The Judgment then distinguishes two cases: if there is nowhere to go, return and recover; if there is somewhere to go, act early.
- •Deliverance is the loosening of a knot, not instant perfection.
- •Returning is auspicious when no further action is required.
- •Early action is auspicious when a real task remains.
- •Relief should restore proportion rather than create new haste.
Release includes cleanup and mercy
The Image says the noble person pardons errors and forgives offenses. Yet the lines also catch foxes, release bindings, and shoot the hawk on the wall. Xie combines mercy with practical cleanup: forgive what can be released, and remove what would recreate the danger.
- •The three foxes image asks you to identify residual complications.
- •Carrying while riding warns against showing off after relief.
- •Freeing the thumbs suggests loosening small but binding attachments.
- •The hawk line points to decisive, proportionate removal of a remaining threat.
Reading Xie in a live question
- After a crisis
- Close the loop. If nothing urgent remains, recover; if a real issue remains, handle it early before tension gathers again.
- Reconciliation
- Forgiveness may be possible, but it should not erase boundaries. Release resentment where appropriate and still clean up causes of harm.
- Recovery or relief
- Treat relief as a transition. In health or safety matters, pair rest with qualified support instead of assuming the danger is fully gone.
Source Notes
- Primary text
- This reading follows the Zhouyi Xie Judgment, Image, and line statements, especially return versus early action, pardoning errors, catching foxes, freeing attachments, and shooting the hawk.
- Zhouyi: Xie Judgment, Image, and line statements
- Method boundary
- Xie is a symbolic model for release after difficulty. It should not be used as a guarantee that risk, illness, conflict, or responsibility has ended.
- CosmicTao editorial method note
Interpretation
Yes. The blockage is releasing — act swiftly now.
Upper Trigram
Thunder
Lower Trigram
Water
The Judgment (King Wen)
Deliverance. The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune.
The Image
Thunder and rain set in: the image of Deliverance.
Keywords
FAQ
What is Hexagram 40 (Deliverance)?
Deliverance. The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune.
What is the geometric structure of Hexagram 40?
Hexagram 40 acts with the upper trigram Thunder and the lower trigram Water.
What are the core themes of Deliverance?
The core themes and meanings include: liberation, relief, forgiveness, release.