Hexagram 63 Line 6: 上六

Classical Chinese Text

上六 濡其首。厲。

濡其首

Line Commentary

He gets his head in the water. Danger. After crossing a stream, your head can get into the water only if you are so imprudent as to turn back. As long as you go forward and do not look back, you escape this danger. But there is a fascination in standing still and looking back on a peril overcome. Such vain self-admiration brings misfortune. It leads only to danger, and unless you finally resolve to go forward without pausing, you fall victim to this danger.

Commentary

You get your head in the water. Danger. After crossing a stream, your head can only get wet if you turn back to look. As long as you go forward, you escape danger. But there is a fascination in standing still and looking back on a peril overcome. Such vain self-admiration brings misfortune; unless you resolve to go forward without pausing, you fall victim to this danger.