Hexagram 48 · The Well

井 · Jǐng

Hexagram 48, The Well (井, Jǐng), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Wind below and Water above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “改邑不改井，无丧无得，往来井井；汔至，亦未繘井，羸其瓶，凶。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with the well — an unchanging source that nourishes all. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Wind (巽) — gentleness and quiet penetration
Upper trigram: Water (坎) — depth, danger and constancy in flow
Symbol: ䷯ · Name: 井 (Jǐng) · Number: 48 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   井泥不食，旧井无禽。
   The Image says: “井泥不食”，下也；“旧井无禽”，时舍也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   井谷射鲋，瓮敝漏。
   The Image says: “井谷射鲋”，无与也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   井渫不食，为我心恻；可用汲，王明，并受其福。
   The Image says: “井渫不食”，行恻也；求“王明”，受福也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   井甃，无咎。
   The Image says: “井甃，无咎”，修井也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   井冽，寒泉食。
   The Image says: “寒泉”之“食”，中正也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   井收勿幕，有孚元吉。
   The Image says: “元吉”在上，大成也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 48?

Hexagram 48 is The Well (井, Jǐng), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Wind below and Water above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Well?

The judgment of The Well reads, in the Chinese original: “改邑不改井，无丧无得，往来井井；汔至，亦未繘井，羸其瓶，凶。”. Its Great Image reads: “木上有水，井。君子以劳民劝相。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Well symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Well is associated with the well — an unchanging source that nourishes all. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.