48. Ching

	The Well
	Upper Trigram:	K'an, the Abyss, Water, Danger
	Lower Trigram:	Sun, Gentle Penetration, Mildness, Wind, Wood
	Governing Ruler:	Nine in the fifth place

The Image
The trigram representing wood, and above it that for water: the image of Ching. The superior man, in accordance with this, comforts the people, and stimulates them to mutual helpfulness.

Miscellaneous Signs
Progress in Ching in K'un encounters blight.

The Judgement
The Well.
The site of a town may be changed, but not of its well. Its water neither disappears, nor does it receive any great increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit.
If the drawing has nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water of the well, the bucket is broken, this is evil.

Appended Judgement
In Ching we see the field of virtue, and its abiding in one place, yet influencing others. Ching also appears in the discrimination of what is righteous.

See also: Ta Chuan - Section 2, Chapter VII-2,3,4.

Commentary
In Ching we have the symbol of wood in the water, and the raising of the water; which gives us the idea of a well. A well supplies nourishment, and is not itself exhausted.
'The site of a town may be changed, but not of its well': this is indicated by the stong lines in the central positions.
'The drawing is nearly accomplished, but the rope has not quite reached the water': its service has not yet been accomplished.
'The bucket is broken': this occasions evil.

The Lines and commentaries
Bottom six
A well so muddy that men will not drink of it; or an old well to which neither birds nor other creatures resort.

'A well so muddy that men will not drink of it': this is indicated by its low position.
'An old well to which birds do not come': it has been forsaken in the course of time.

Nine in the second place
A well from which by a hole the water escapes, and flows away to the shrimps and such small creatures; or one the water of which leaks away from a broken basket.

'A well from which by a hole the water escapes, and flows away to the shrimps': its subject is strong in a weak place and has none co-operating with him above.

Nine in the third place
A well which has been cleared out, but is not used. Our hearts are sorry for this, for the water might be drawn out and used. If the king were only aware of this, all might receive the benefit of it.

'The well has been cleared out, but is not used': passers-by would be sorry for this. A prayer is made 'that the king were aware': for then blessing would be received.

Six in the fourth place
A well, the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error.

'A well, the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error': the well has been put in good repair.

Nine in the fifth place
A clear, limpid well, the waters from whose cold spring are freely drunk.

'The waters from the cold spring are freely drunk': this is indicated by its central and correct position.

Top-most six
A well, the water of which is brought up, and the top of which, therefore, is not allowed to be covered. This suggests the idea of sincerity. There will be great good fortune.

The 'great good fortune' at the top-most place indicates the grand accomplishment of the idea represented by the hexagram.