Hexagram 64 · Before Completion

未济 · Wèi Jì

Hexagram 64, Before Completion (未济, Wèi Jì), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Water below and Fire above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “亨，小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with before completion — the work unfinished. 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: Fire (离) — clarity, radiance and dependence
Symbol: ䷿ · Name: 未济 (Wèi Jì) · Number: 64 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   濡其尾，吝。
   The Image says: “濡其尾”，亦不知极也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   曳其轮，贞吉。
   The Image says: 九二“贞吉”，中以行正也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   未济，征凶，利涉大川。
   The Image says: “未济，征凶”，位不当也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   贞吉，悔亡；震用伐鬼方，三年有赏于大国。
   The Image says: “贞吉，悔亡”，志行也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   贞吉，无悔；君子之光，有孚，吉。
   The Image says: “君子之光”，其晖“吉”也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   有孚于饮酒；无咎，濡其首，有孚失是。
   The Image says: “饮酒”濡首，亦不知节也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 64?

Hexagram 64 is Before Completion (未济, Wèi Jì), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Water below and Fire above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Before Completion?

The judgment of Before Completion reads, in the Chinese original: “亨，小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利。”. Its Great Image reads: “火在水上，未济。君子以慎辨物居方。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Before Completion symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Before Completion is associated with before completion — the work unfinished. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.