I Ching hexagram 54

I Ching hexagram 54: The Marrying Maiden

归妹 guī mèi · thunder above a lake

A young bride enters a household as a junior wife: little standing, so serve modestly and do not force your terms.

The judgment: Pushing ahead brings misfortune. Nothing is favorable.
"Kwei Mei indicates that (under the conditions which it denotes) action will be evil, and in no wise advantageous."
James Legge's translation, 1882
What it says to you: Thunder rumbles over the lake, and the lake stirs in answer: desire moving first and asking questions later. The picture is a young woman married off as a junior wife, entering a household where she has no standing. The judgment is blunt. Pushing ahead brings misfortune; nothing is favorable. That sounds grim, so read the lines, which are kinder. A lame woman can still walk, a one-eyed one can still see, and King Di Yi's sister, the Shang princess in line five, wears plainer sleeves than the junior wife who goes with her, and is blessed for it. Where you have little power, do not force terms. Accept the modest position, do it well, and let status follow, or not. Avoid line six's empty basket: a commitment kept for show, with nothing inside it.

Matter by matter

Love: An unequal match or a role with little say. Go modestly; beware empty forms.
Work: Junior position, little leverage. Serve well without overreaching; do not force a deal.
Money: Unfavorable for new commitments. Check agreements for empty promises.
A yes or no question: No. The text says action brings misfortune; nothing is favorable now.

The six lines of The Marrying Maiden

A hexagram is built from the bottom up, so the first line is the lowest. You read a line's text only when your cast made it a moving line.

Bottom line, solid

The young woman marries as a junior wife. Lame, yet able to walk. Going forward brings good fortune.

Your position is humble, and you cannot do everything you would like. You can still do a lot. Accept the limit, do your part loyally, and you will move ahead.
Second line, solid

One-eyed, yet able to see. Favorable for the steadiness of someone living out of sight.

Your view is partial, and the situation may disappoint you. Stay loyal and quiet. Keep your integrity in private, even if no one notices, and it will serve you.
Third line, broken

The young woman is sent to marry as a servant; she returns and marries as a junior wife.

You aimed too low, or took a lesser role out of eagerness. Step back and accept a proper, modest place instead. Waiting for the right standing beats grabbing the wrong one.
Fourth line, solid

The young woman lets the wedding date pass. A late marriage has its time.

You are holding out for the right arrangement, and it is taking longer. That is fine. Delay here is wise, not lost; the right moment will come.
Fifth line, broken

King Di Yi gives his sister in marriage. The bride's sleeves are not as fine as her attendant's. The moon is nearly full. Good fortune.

You have real rank but choose modesty. Let substance outshine show; plain sleeves on a princess are a sign of strength. Just short of fullness, things go best.
Top line, broken

The woman holds a basket with nothing in it; the man stabs the sheep and no blood flows. Nothing is favorable.

The forms are there, but the substance is gone. A promise, ritual, or relationship is empty. Do not pretend otherwise; nothing will come of keeping up the show.

About hexagram 54

What does I Ching hexagram 54 mean?

Hexagram 54, The Marrying Maiden, puts thunder above a lake. A young bride enters a household as a junior wife: little standing, so serve modestly and do not force your terms. Its judgment reads: Pushing ahead brings misfortune. Nothing is favorable.

Is hexagram 54 a yes or a no?

No. The text says action brings misfortune; nothing is favorable now.

What does hexagram 54 mean for love?

An unequal match or a role with little say. Go modestly; beware empty forms.

What does hexagram 54 mean for work?

Junior position, little leverage. Serve well without overreaching; do not force a deal.

Cast the coins for a new question , or for a straight yes or no, throw the moon blocks

The I Ching reads a moment. For the years of your own life, cast your birth chart; on your chart page you can ask three questions of your own, answered against it, for $2.99.

The judgment and lines are rendered from the Chinese text; the quoted judgment is Legge's 1882 translation, and every other English line is Jade Almanac's own. A cast is a prompt for reflection, not advice about health, money or the law.