Deliverance
Thunder (震 Zhèn) above, Water (坎 Kǎn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 40, 解 (Jiě), represents Deliverance.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 40 (解 Jiě). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/jie). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
解：利西南，无所往，其來復吉。有攸往，夙吉。
Oriens Editorial Translation: The southwest is fruitful. When there is nowhere to go, returning brings good fortune; when there is somewhere to go, an early departure brings good fortune.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
雷雨作,解。君子以赦过宥罪。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) thunder and that for rain, with these phenomena in a state of manifestation, form Kieh. The superior man, in accordance with this, forgives errors, and deals gently with crimes.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：无咎。
James Legge: The first SIX, divided, shows that its subject will commit no error.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：田獲三狐，得黃矢，貞吉。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject catch, in hunting, three foxes, and obtain the yellow (= golden) arrows. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：負且乘，致寇至，貞吝。
James Legge: The third SIX, divided, shows a porter with his burden, (yet) riding in a carriage. He will (only) tempt robbers to attack him. However firm and correct he may (try to) be, there will be cause for regret.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：解而拇，朋至斯孚。
James Legge: (To the subject of) the fourth NINE, undivided, (it is said), 'Remove your toes. Friends will (then) come, between you and whom there will be mutual confidence.'
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：君子維有解，吉；有孚于小人。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, shows (its subject), the superior man (= the ruler), executing his function of removing (whatever is injurious to the idea of the hexagram), in which case there will he good fortune, and confidence in him will be shown even by the small men.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上六：公用射隼于高墉之上，獲之，无不利。
James Legge: In the sixth SIX, divided, we see a feudal prince (with his bow) shooting at a falcon on the top of a high wall, and hitting it. (The effect of his action) will be in every way advantageous.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Deliverance can prompt a careful question about relief: what has just loosened here, and what should be done early while movement is possible? The image of thunder-and-rain breaking winter's grip reads here as the text's own picture of tension releasing.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
Nothing predicts that any real problem resolves. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 40 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.