Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 夬 (Guài) |
| English Name | Breakthrough / Resoluteness |
| Trigrams | Lake over Heaven (兑上乾下) |
| Number | 43 of 64 |
The Text (Yijing Classic)
Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)
Breakthrough. One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king. It must be announced truthfully. Danger. It is necessary to notify one's own city. It does not further to resort to arms. It furthers one to undertake something.
The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)
The lake has risen up to heaven: the image of Breakthrough. Thus the superior man dispenses riches downward and refrains from resting on his virtue.
The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)
| Line | Position | Text | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初九 | Bottom | Mighty in the forward-striding toes. When one goes and is not equal to the task, one makes a mistake. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 九二 | 2nd | A cry of alarm. Arms at evening and at night. Fear nothing. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 九三 | 3rd | To be powerful in the cheekbones brings misfortune. The superior man is firmly resolved. He walks alone and is caught in the rain. He is bespattered, and people murmur against him. No blame. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 九四 | 4th | There is no skin on his thighs, and walking comes hard. If a man were to let himself be led like a sheep, remorse would disappear. But if these words are heard, they will not be believed. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 九五 | 5th | In dealing with weeds, firm resolution is necessary. Walking in the middle remains free of blame. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 上六 | Top | No cry. In the end misfortune comes. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
Core Meanings
Essence (本质)
- Decisive action to remove the last negative element; speak truth to power
- Upper trigram Lake (joyous and open) over lower trigram Heaven (creative and strong)
- Embodies the qualities of breakthrough, resolution, decisiveness and truth, courage, determination
Keywords
BreakthroughResolutionDecisivenessTruthCourageDetermination
Divination & Prediction
★★★☆☆Favorable but Dangerous
| Aspect | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Overall | Mixed conditions requiring discernment. Decisive action to remove the last negative element; speak truth to power Success is possible through decisiveness and truth. |
| Timing | Proceed with care, attending to details and timing. |
| Challenge | Balance breakthrough with resolution to navigate the complexity. |
Applications in Life
Business & Career
In business, this hexagram counsels breakthrough and resolution. The Lake trigram above suggests joyous and open energy in your outer dealings, while the Heaven trigram below points to creative and strong foundations. Proceed carefully, focusing on essentials.
Health & Wellness
Focus on mouth and respiratory and lungs and head. Moderate, balanced approaches to health serve better than extreme measures now.
Relationships
In relationships, embody breakthrough and resolution. Balance giving and receiving. Listen as much as you speak.
Education & Growth
For learning, this hexagram emphasizes decisiveness and truth. Steady, methodical study brings better results than ambitious leaps.
Practical Wisdom
Do
- Cultivate breakthrough in all your actions
- Practice resolution consistently
- Embrace decisiveness as your guiding principle
- Develop truth through daily practice
Don’t
- Neglect the importance of courage
- Abandon determination under pressure
- Act impulsively without considering consequences
Comparative Hexagrams
| Hexagram | Relationship |
|---|---|
| 44. Gòu (姤) | Coming to Meet — the returning negative force |
| 1. Qián (乾) | The Creative — source of decisive yang energy |
| 28. Dà Guò (大过) | Preponderance of Great — crisis requiring decisive action |
Sample Reading Dialogue
Querent: “I need to confront a difficult truth in my organization. How?”
You received Hexagram 43, Breakthrough. The judgment says: 'Breakthrough. One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king...' Decisive action to remove the last negative element; speak truth to power This is a nuanced sign. Success is possible but requires careful attention to resolution and decisiveness. Proceed thoughtfully rather than boldly.