Hexagram 38 Kui - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Opposition
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BY NICOLE LAU
Hexagram 38 Kui - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Opposition
Kui’s six lines describe the psychological journey through deep misunderstanding and alienation. The journey moves from the initial anxiety of losing connection, through bizarre encounters and severe paranoia, to the ultimate realization that the "enemy" is actually a friend. It is a masterclass in overcoming projection.
Line 1 — Nine at the Bottom: The Lost Horse
Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not run after it; it will come back of its own accord. When you see evil people, guard yourself against mistakes.
The first line describes the onset of alienation. Someone or something (the horse) has drifted away from you. The natural instinct is to chase it, to force the connection back into existence. The I Ching advises the exact opposite: do not run after it. In a time of opposition, chasing someone who is pulling away only increases the alienation. If the connection is genuine, it will return naturally. Furthermore, you will encounter "evil" or hostile people; do not try to fix them. Simply guard your own behavior so you do not make mistakes that give them leverage over you.
- Stage: The initial distancing and feeling of loss
- Action: Do not chase what is pulling away; focus on your own flawless behavior
- Wisdom: Remorse disappears — what is truly yours will return without force
Line 2 — Nine in the Second Place: The Accidental Meeting
One meets his lord in a narrow street. No blame.
The second line describes the difficulty of formal connection during times of opposition. The person of Line 2 is a loyal minister seeking their lord (Line 5), but the normal, formal channels of communication are blocked by the general atmosphere of alienation. Therefore, the meeting must happen informally, accidentally, "in a narrow street." When formal structures fail, you must be willing to connect through unorthodox, casual, or unconventional means. Because the intention is pure, there is no blame.
- Stage: Blocked formal channels of communication
- Action: Find informal, unconventional ways to make contact with allies
- Wisdom: No blame — in alienated times, the narrow street is better than the grand hall
Line 3 — Six in the Third Place: Humiliation and Rescue
One sees the wagon dragged back, the oxen halted, a man's hair and nose cut off. Not a good beginning, but a good end.
The third line presents a violent, chaotic image. The person is trying to move forward but is forcefully dragged back, and they suffer humiliating punishments (hair and nose cut off were ancient punishments). This represents a situation where the opposition is aggressive and you are subjected to profound embarrassment, sabotage, or attack from those who misunderstand you. It feels like a disaster. However, the line concludes: "Not a good beginning, but a good end." The humiliation is temporary; the opposition will eventually burn itself out, and the situation will resolve positively.
- Stage: Active sabotage, humiliation, and aggressive opposition
- Action: Endure the humiliation; do not lose hope because of the terrible beginning
- Wisdom: A good end — the aggressive opposition will eventually exhaust itself
Line 4 — Nine in the Fourth Place: Finding the Ally
Isolated through opposition, one meets a like-minded man with whom one can associate in good faith. Despite the danger, no blame.
The fourth line describes the turning point of isolation. The person feels entirely surrounded by opposition and deeply lonely. But in this extreme isolation, they unexpectedly meet a kindred spirit—someone who understands them perfectly. Because the environment is so hostile, associating with this person carries danger, but the mutual trust ("good faith") provides the strength needed to survive the alienation. No blame.
- Stage: Extreme isolation broken by a single, genuine connection
- Action: Trust the kindred spirit when you find them, despite the external danger
- Wisdom: No blame — one true ally is enough to survive total opposition
Line 5 — Six in the Fifth Place: Biting Through the Wrapping
Remorse disappears. The companion bites his way through the wrappings. If one goes to him, how could it be a mistake?
The fifth line is the ruler's position, but this ruler is separated from their trusted advisor (Line 2). The "wrappings" represent the layers of misunderstanding, gossip, and paranoia that have kept them apart. The companion (the advisor) actively bites through these layers to reveal the truth and restore the connection. The ruler must respond by dropping their own defenses and going to meet the companion. When the misunderstanding is pierced, restoring the bond is absolutely the right thing to do.
- Stage: The clearing of misunderstandings
- Action: Meet the person who has proven their loyalty by cutting through the gossip
- Wisdom: How could it be a mistake? — reuniting after alienation is the ultimate victory
Line 6 — Nine at the Top: The Pig Covered in Dirt
Isolated through opposition, one sees one's companion as a pig covered with dirt, as a wagon full of devils. First one draws a bow against him, then one lays the bow aside. He is not a robber; he will woo at the right time. As one goes, rain falls; then good fortune comes.
The supreme line of Kui is one of the most psychologically brilliant in the I Ching. It describes the absolute extreme of paranoia and projection. The person is so isolated by opposition that they literally hallucinate. They see their truest companion as a filthy pig or a wagon full of demons. They draw their bow to kill their best friend, believing them to be a robber.
But at the last second, clarity strikes. They realize the "demons" were just their own projected fears. They lower the bow. They realize the person is a friend coming to help ("woo at the right time"). The release of this immense, paranoid tension is symbolized by falling rain—the tears of relief, the washing away of the delusion. Good fortune follows the rain.
- Stage: Extreme paranoia and psychological projection
- Action: Lower your defenses; recognize that your "enemy" is actually your friend
- Wisdom: As one goes, rain falls — the release of paranoid tension brings profound relief and good fortune
The Complete Journey: A Summary
- Line 1: The lost horse — do not chase what pulls away; focus on your own behavior.
- Line 2: The narrow street — finding informal ways to connect when formal channels fail.
- Line 3: The dragged wagon — enduring aggressive humiliation, trusting the end will be good.
- Line 4: The like-minded man — finding one true ally in the midst of total isolation.
- Line 5: Biting the wrapping — piercing the layers of misunderstanding to reunite.
- Line 6: The pig covered in dirt — overcoming extreme paranoia to realize the enemy is a friend.
What Is Next in This Series
- Part 1: The Symbol and Structure
- Part 2 (This Article): The Six Lines — Complete Line-by-Line Commentary
- Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Kui in Practice
- Part 4: Philosophy — Opposition in Confucian, Taoist, and Epistemological Thought
- Part 5: Practical Applications — Conflict Resolution, Overcoming Projection, Finding Common Ground
- Part 6: Modern Interpretations — Dialectics, Cognitive Dissonance, Shadow Projection
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