guàiAlso known as “Break-through” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Kwâi” (Legge)
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In plain words
The lake risen to heaven: the cloudburst about to fall. Five yang lines resolve to remove the last yin — declare it openly at court, stay alert, and don't rely on arms.
The attitude it asks for
Be resolute and public about removing what is wrong, but without hatred or violence; strength that is also gentle wins.
Structure
Upper trigram☱兌Dui (the Joyous)澤 · lake · Metal
Lower trigram☰乾Qian (the Creative)天 · heaven · Metal
Kwâi requires (in him who would fulfil its meaning) the exhibition (of the culprit's guilt) in the royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal (for sympathy and support), with a consciousness of the peril (involved in cutting off the criminal). He should (also) make announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms. (In this way) there will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to.
Kwâi is the symbol of displacing or removing. We see (in the figure) the strong (lines) displacing the weak. (We have in it the attributes of) strength and complacency. There is displacement, but harmony (continues).
'The exhibition (of the criminal's guilt) in the royal courtyard' is suggested by the (one) weak (line) mounted on the five strong lines. There 'is an earnest and sincere appeal (for sympathy and support), and a consciousness of the peril (involved in the undertaking):'—it is the realisation of this danger, which makes the method (of compassing the object) brilliant. 'He should make an announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms:'—(if he have recourse to arms), what he prefers will (soon) be exhausted. 'There will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to:'—when the growth of the strong (lines) has been completed, there will be an end (of the displacement).
The Image
澤上于天，夬；君子以施祿及下，居德則忌。
(The trigram representing) heaven and that for the waters of a marsh mounting above it form Kwâi. The superior man, in accordance with this, bestows emolument on those below him, and dislikes allowing his gifts to accumulate (undispensed).
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
无號，終有凶。
The sixth line, divided, shows its subject without any (helpers) on whom to call. His end will be evil.
Its symbolism
无號之凶，終不可長也。
'There is the misery of having none on whom to call:'—the end will be that he cannot continue any longer.
The fifth line, undivided, shows (the small men like) a bed of purslain, which ought to be uprooted with the utmost determination. (The subject of the line having such determination), his action, in harmony with his central position, will lead to no error or blame.
Its symbolism
中行无咎，中未光也。
'If his action be in harmony with his central position, there will be no error:'—but his standing in the due mean is not yet clearly displayed.
The fourth line, undivided, shows one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped, and who walks slowly and with difficulty. (If he could act) like a sheep led (after its companions), occasion for repentance would disappear. But though he hear these words, he will not believe them.
Its symbolism
其行次且，位不當也。聞言不信，聰不明也。
'He walks slowly and with difficulty:'—he is not in the place appropriate to him. 'He hears these words, but does not believe them:'—he hears, but does not understand.
The third line, undivided, shows its subject (about to advance) with strong (and determined) looks. There will be evil. (But) the superior man, bent on cutting off (the criminal), will walk alone and encounter the rain, (till he be hated by his proper associates) as if he were contaminated (by the others). (In the end) there will be no blame against him.
Its symbolism
君子夬夬，終无咎也。
'The superior man looks bent on cutting off the culprit:'—there will in the end be no error.
The second line, undivided, shows its subject full of apprehension and appealing (for sympathy and help). Late at night hostile measures may be (taken against him), but he need not be anxious about them.
Its symbolism
莫夜有戎，得中道也。
'Though hostile measures be taken against him, he need not be anxious:'—he pursues the course of the due mean.
The first line, undivided, shows its subject in (the pride of) strength advancing with his toes. He goes forward, but will not succeed. There will be ground for blame.
Its symbolism
不勝而往，咎也。
'Without (being able to) succeed, he goes forward:'—this is an error.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 43, Decisiveness, mean?
The lake risen to heaven: the cloudburst about to fall. Five yang lines resolve to remove the last yin — declare it openly at court, stay alert, and don't rely on arms.
Which trigrams form Decisiveness?
兌 above 乾 — lake over heaven. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 乾 Heaven.
What happens when a line of Decisiveness 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 Decisiveness in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — — — — — - - is Decisiveness. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.