wú wàngAlso known as “Innocence” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Wû Wang” (Legge)
innocencesinceritythe unexpected
In plain words
Thunder under heaven: things moving by their innate nature. Great success for what is correct and unplanned; scheming brings misfortune, and some misfortune simply arrives undeserved.
The attitude it asks for
Act from sincerity without calculation; when the unexpected strikes, don't medicate what needs no medicine.
Structure
Upper trigram☰乾Qian (the Creative)天 · heaven · Metal
Lower trigram☳震Zhen (the Arousing)雷 · thunder · Wood
Wû Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.
In Wû Wang we have the strong (first) line come from the outer (trigram), and become in the inner trigram lord (of the whole figure); we have (the attributes of) motive power and strength; we have the strong line (of the fifth place) in the central position, and responded to (by the weak second):—there will be 'great progress proceeding from correctness; such is the appointment of Heaven.' 'If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction:'—whither can he (who thinks he is) free from all insincerity, (and yet is as here described) proceed? Can anything be done (advantageously) by him whom the (will and) appointment of Heaven do not help?
The Image
天下雷行，物與无妄；先王以茂對時，育萬物。
The thunder rolls all under the sky, and to (every)thing there is given (its nature), free from all insincerity. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, (made their regulations) in complete accordance with the seasons, thereby nourishing all things.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
无妄，行有眚，无攸利。
The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject free from insincerity, yet sure to fall into error, if he take action. (His action) will not be advantageous in any way.
Its symbolism
无妄之行，窮之災也。
'The action (in this case) of one who is free from insincerity' will occasion the calamity arising from action (when the time for it is) exhausted.
The fifth line, undivided, shows one who is free from insincerity, and yet has fallen ill. Let him not use medicine, and he will have occasion for joy (in his recovery).
Its symbolism
无妄之藥，不可試也。
'Medicine in the case of one who is free from insincerity!'—it should not be tried (at all).
The third line, divided, shows calamity happening to one who is free from insincerity;—as in the case of an ox that has been tied up. A passer by finds it (and carries it off), while the people in the neighbourhood have the calamity (of being accused and apprehended).
Its symbolism
行人得牛，邑人災也。
'The passer-by gets the ox:'—this proves a calamity to the people of the neighbourhood.
The second line, divided, shows one who reaps without having ploughed (that he might reap), and gathers the produce of his third year's fields without having cultivated them the first year for that end. To such a one there will be advantage in whatever direction he may move.
Its symbolism
不耕獲，未富也。
'He reaps without having ploughed:'—(the thought of) riches to be got had not risen (in his mind).
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 25, Without Falsehood, mean?
Thunder under heaven: things moving by their innate nature. Great success for what is correct and unplanned; scheming brings misfortune, and some misfortune simply arrives undeserved.
Which trigrams form Without Falsehood?
乾 above 震 — heaven over thunder. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 漸 Gradual Advance.
What happens when a line of Without Falsehood changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Without Falsehood in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - - - — — — is Without Falsehood. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.