jì jìAlso known as “After Completion” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Kî Žî” (Legge)
completionorder achievedvigilance
In plain words
Water over fire, every line in its proper place: completion. Success in small matters; favourable to persevere — good at the start, disorder at the end if you relax.
The attitude it asks for
The task is done; now guard it: fix small faults early, and think of trouble while things go well.
Kî Žî intimates progress and success in small matters. There will be advantage in being firm and correct. There has been good fortune in the beginning; there may be disorder in the end.
Commentary on the Judgment
既濟，亨，小者亨也。利貞，剛柔正而位當也。初吉，柔得中也。終止則亂，其道窮也。
'Kî Žî intimates progress and success:'—in small matters, that is, there will be that progress and success.
'There will be advantage in being firm and correct:'—the strong and weak (lines) are correctly arranged, each in its appropriate place.
'There has been good fortune in the beginning:'—the weak (second line) is in the centre.
'In the end' there is a cessation (of effort), and 'disorder arises:'—the course (that led to rule and order) is (now) exhausted.
The Image
水在火上，既濟；君子以思患而豫防之。
(The trigram representing) fire and that for water above it form Kî Žî. The superior man, in accordance with this, thinks of evil (that may come), and beforehand guards against it.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
濡其首，厲。
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject with (even) his head immersed. The position is perilous.
Its symbolism
濡其首厲，何可久也。
'His head is immersed; the position is perilous:'—how could such a state continue long?
The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject (as) the neighbour in the east who slaughters an ox (for his sacrifice); but this is not equal to the (small) spring sacrifice of the neighbour in the west, whose sincerity receives the blessing.
Its symbolism
東鄰殺牛，不如西鄰之時也；實受其福，吉大來也。
'The slaughtering of an ox by the neighbour in the east is not equal to (the small sacrifice of) the neighbour in the west:'—because the time (in the latter case is more important and fit). 'His sincerity receives the blessing:'—good fortune comes on a great scale.
The third line, undivided, (suggests the case of) Kâo Žung, who attacked the Demon region, but was three years in subduing it. Small men should not be employed (in such enterprises).
Its symbolism
三年克之，憊也。
'He was three years in subduing it:'—enough to make him weary.
The second line, divided, (shows its subject as) a wife who has lost her (carriage-)screen. There is no occasion to go in pursuit of it. In seven days she will find it.
Its symbolism
七日得，以中道也。
'In seven days she will find it:'—for the course pursued is that indicated by the central position (of the line).
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 63, Already Crossed, mean?
Water over fire, every line in its proper place: completion. Success in small matters; favourable to persevere — good at the start, disorder at the end if you relax.
Which trigrams form Already Crossed?
坎 above 離 — water over fire. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 未濟 Not Yet Crossed.
What happens when a line of Already Crossed 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 Already Crossed in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - — - - — - - is Already Crossed. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.