The Marrying Maiden
Thunder (震 Zhèn) above, Lake (兌 Duì) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 54, 歸妹 (Guī Mèi), represents The Marrying Maiden.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 54 (歸妹 Guī Mèi). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/gui-mei). 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)
歸妹：征凶，无攸利。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Advancing brings misfortune; nothing is favorable.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
泽上有雷,归妹。君子以永终知敝。
James Legge: (The trigram representing the waters of) a marsh and over it that for thunder form Kwei Mei. The superior man, in accordance with this, having regard to the far-distant end, knows the mischief (that may be done at the beginning).
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初九：歸妹以娣，跛能履，征吉。
James Legge: The first NINE, undivided, shows the younger sister married off in a position ancillary to the real wife. (It suggests the idea of) a person lame on one leg who yet manages to tramp along. Going forward will be fortunate.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：眇能視，利幽人之貞。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows her blind of one eye, and yet able to see. There will be advantage in her maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：歸妹以須，反歸以娣。
James Legge: The third SIX, divided, shows the younger sister who was to be married off in a mean position. She returns and accepts an ancillary position.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：歸妹愆期，遲歸有時。
James Legge: The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the younger sister who is to be married off protracting the time. She may be late in being married, but the time will come.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：帝乙歸妹，其君之袂，不如其娣之袂良。月幾望，吉。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, reminds us of the marrying of the younger sister of (king) Ti-yi, when the sleeves of her the princess were not equal to those of the (still) younger sister who accompanied her in an inferior capacity. (The case suggests the thought of) the moon almost full. There will be good fortune.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上六：女承筐无實，士刲羊无血，无攸利。
James Legge: The sixth SIX, divided, shows the young lady bearing the basket, but without anything in it, and the gentleman slaughtering the sheep, but without blood flowing from it. There will be no advantage in any way.
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.
Read as a figure-level theme, Guimei can prompt a careful question about position: where someone stands in a structure they did not choose, and what dignity and clear sight look like inside constrained circumstances. The Image's contrast between the transitory and the enduring is kept as the text's own framing, not converted into a doctrine about how things turn out.
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.
This reflection does not predict how any relationship or undertaking will go, and it offers no therapy or counseling. Someone navigating a constrained or unequal situation deserves real support suited to it; this page is not that support.
Continue with the Hexagram 54 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.