Before Completion
Fire (離 Lí) above, Water (坎 Kǎn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 64, 未濟 (Wèi Jì), represents Before Completion.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 64 (未濟 Wèi Jì). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/wei-ji). 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)
未濟：亨，小狐汔濟，濡其尾，无攸利。
Oriens Editorial Translation: Success. The little fox is nearly across, but wets its tail. Nothing is fruitful.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
火在水上,未济。君子以慎辨物居方。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) water and that for fire above it form Wei Zi. The superior man, in accordance with this, carefully discriminates among (the qualities of) things, and the (different) positions they (naturally) occupy.
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：濡其尾，吝。
James Legge: The first SIX, divided, shows its subject (like a fox) whose tail gets immersed. There will be occasion for regret.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：曳其輪，貞吉。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject dragging back his (carriage-) wheel. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
六三：未濟，征凶，利涉大川。
James Legge: The third SIX, divided, shows its subject, with (the state of things) not yet remedied, advancing on; which will lead to evil. But there will be advantage in (trying to) cross the great stream.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：貞吉，悔亡。震用伐鬼方，三年有賞于大國。
James Legge: The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject by firm correctness obtaining good fortune, so that all occasion for repentance disappears. Let him stir himself up, as if he were invading the Demon region, where for three years rewards will come to him (and his troops) from the great kingdom.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
六五：貞吉，无悔。君子之光，有孚吉。
James Legge: The fifth SIX, divided, shows its subject by firm correctness obtaining good fortune, and having no occasion for repentance. (We see in him) the brightness of a superior man, and the possession of sincerity. There will be good fortune.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：有孚于飲酒，无咎。濡其首，有孚失是。
James Legge: The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject full of confidence and therefore feasting (quietly). There will be no error. (If he) cherish this confidence, till he (is like the fox who) gets his head immersed, it will fail of what is right.
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.
Before Completion can prompt a careful question about distance: what part of an undertaking is genuinely finished, and what remains between here and the far shore? The little-fox image is traditionally associated with an effort that falls short near the end; Oriens keeps that as a figure-level theme about attending to the last stretch, not a statement that any particular effort will fail.
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 success or failure. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 64 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.