Hexagram 40 · Deliverance

解 · Xiè

Hexagram 40, Deliverance (解, Xiè), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Water below and Thunder above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “利西南。无所往，其来复吉。有攸往，夙吉。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with deliverance — release from tension. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Water (坎) — depth, danger and constancy in flow
Upper trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Symbol: ䷧ · Name: 解 (Xiè) · Number: 40 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   无咎。
   The Image says: 刚柔之际，义“无咎”也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   田获三狐，得黄矢；贞吉。
   The Image says: 九二“贞吉”，得中道也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   负且乘，致寇至，贞吝。
   The Image says: “负且乘”，亦可丑也；自我致戎，又谁咎也？
4. 九四 (九四)
   解而拇，朋至斯孚。
   The Image says: “解而拇”，未当位也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   君子维有解，吉，有孚于小人。
   The Image says: “君子”“有解”，小人退也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   公用射隼于高墉之上，获之，无不利。
   The Image says: “公用射隼”，以解悖也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 40?

Hexagram 40 is Deliverance (解, Xiè), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Water below and Thunder above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Deliverance?

The judgment of Deliverance reads, in the Chinese original: “利西南。无所往，其来复吉。有攸往，夙吉。”. Its Great Image reads: “雷雨作，解。君子以赦过宥罪。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Deliverance symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Deliverance is associated with deliverance — release from tension. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.