Hexagram 48: The Well (水风井, Shuǐ Fēng Jǐng)
The Well (水风井), the 48th hexagram in the 64 hexagrams of the Book of Changes, consists of Water (坎) above and Wind/Wood (巽) below. It is classified as a miscellaneous hexagram, symbolizing the well, nurturing others, constancy, cultivating oneself and providing for others. It images wood drawing water from above, the well nourishing people, and an unceasing flow back and forth. Its core principle, "Wood above water: The Well. The noble person labors the people and encourages mutual aid," centers on unchanging constancy, inexhaustible nourishment, repairing wells to support the people, and upholding virtue to benefit the world. It is a moderately auspicious hexagram, revealing the patterns of the noble person cultivating virtue to nurture others, persevering with constancy, and benefiting all things.
Symbol and Core Judgments
Hexagram Symbol
The Well (水风井)
Hexagram 48 · Water Above, Wind Below · Wood Over Water
Upper Trigram: Kan ☵ (Water)Lower Trigram: Xun ☴ (Wind/Wood)Five Elements: Water - Wood (Kan is Water, Xun is Wood)
Symbolizing the way shown by The Well.
Core Judgment (Gua Ci)
The Well (井): The town may change, but the well does not. There is no loss, no gain. People come and go, and the well is a well. When the rope almost reaches the water but the jug is broken, it is ominous.
Interpretation: The Well hexagram symbolizes a water source. A town may move, but the well remains constant—there is neither loss nor gain; all who come and go rely on it for nourishment. Drawing water that almost reaches the mouth of the well, yet tipping over the jug, is an ominous sign. It metaphorically suggests that virtue should be as constant as the well; failure to follow through on actions leads to misfortune.
Line Statements (Yao Ci)
First Six (初六, Chū Liù): Mud in the well; it is not drunk. An old well is not visited even by birds.
Mud in the well; it is not drunk. An old well is not visited even by birds. Interpretation: The well is silted with mud at the bottom, and its water is undrinkable; even birds do not visit this old well. An unmaintained well signifies unrefined virtue that no one draws upon.
Nine in the Second Place (九二, Jiǔ Èr): A spring in the valley that shoots small fish; the jug is broken and leaks.
A spring in the valley that shoots small fish; the jug is broken and leaks. Interpretation: Shooting small fish in a ravine spring, while one's water vessel is broken and leaks. Even with water, it cannot nourish people when the vessel is broken—virtue does not match utility.
Nine in the Third Place (九三, Jiǔ Sān): The well is cleared, yet the water is not drawn. My heart grieves over this. It can be drawn; the king is enlightened, and all receive his blessings.
The well is cleared, yet the water is not drawn. My heart grieves over this. It can be drawn; the king is enlightened, and all receive his blessings. Interpretation: The well water is pure, yet remains untaken—a cause for heartfelt sorrow. It is usable; a wise and enlightened ruler draws from it, and both ruler and subjects share in the blessing. One who possesses virtue and talent goes unrecognized, hoping for an enlightened sovereign to recognize their worth.
Six in the Fourth Place (六四, Liù Sì): The well is lined with tiles. No blame.
The well is lined with tiles. No blame. Interpretation: Lining the well walls with brick and stone avoids blame. Repairing and reinforcing the well's structure signifies solidifying virtue and maintaining integrity without transgression.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五, Jiǔ Wǔ): The well is cool; clear, cold spring water can be drunk.
The well is cool; clear, cold spring water can be drunk. Interpretation: The well water is sweet and refreshing; the cool spring is drinkable. This represents being in the central, honorable position with abundant virtue—perfected character that nourishes people and benefits the world.
Top Six (上六, Shàng Liù): The well is complete, but do not cover it. There is sincerity; greatly auspicious.
The well is complete, but do not cover it. There is sincerity; greatly auspicious. Interpretation: The well is fully developed and left uncovered. Holding fast to sincerity brings great good fortune. This symbolizes completing a task without claiming credit, generously extending favor, and providing inexhaustible nourishment.
Core Symbolism
In The Well hexagram, the upper trigram Kan represents water or a spring, and the lower trigram Xun represents wood (drawing tools). Wood draws water upwards; the well water remains constant, nurturing all things without altering its nature. This symbolizes the noble person's constant virtue, benefiting the world by nurturing others and cultivating the self to aid all things. It corresponds to human affairs involving self-cultivation and virtue-building, appointing worthy talent, benefiting and supporting the masses, and maintaining constancy. The hexagram's core emphasis is inexhaustible nourishment, cultivating virtue to aid the world, and persistent constancy. It warns that neglecting the well (virtue) and starting without finishing leads to misfortune.
The six lines of The Well unfold around the themes of repairing the well and nourishing others: The First Six depicts a silted, useless well; the Nine in the Second Place shows water available but vessels broken; the Nine in the Third Place has pure water going unused; the Six in the Fourth Place repairs the well's walls, maintaining without error; the Nine in the Fifth Place yields cool, sweet, drinkable water; and the Top Six shows the well perfected and left open, providing limitless nourishment—greatly auspicious. The overall core principle is wood drawing water upwards, repairing wells to support the people, constancy, and benefiting the world.
Universal Correspondences (Wan Wu Lei Xiang)
- Nature of the Hexagram: Miscellaneous, Water above Wood; nourishing well water, constancy.
- Five Elements: Water - Wood (Kan is Water, Xun is Wood)
- Direction: North and Southeast
- Timing: Winter and Spring, the time when well water is constant and nourishes all things.
- People: Cultivated noble individuals, rulers who nurture the people, benevolent benefactors.
- Body: Kidneys, liver/gallbladder, qi and blood; governs fluid nourishment and mind-body constancy.
- Animals: Fish, birds
- Objects: Water jugs, jars, water-drawing tools
- Places: Wells, springs, sources that nourish the people
- Human Affairs: Self-cultivation and virtue-building, benefiting and supporting the masses, repairing wells (improving governance), appointing worthy talent
- Colors: Black, Emerald
- Five Flavors: Salty, Sour
- Numbers: One, Four
Classical Source Texts
Original Hexagram & Line Text
The Well (水风井): 井：改邑不改井，无丧无得，往来井井。汔至，亦未繘井，羸其瓶，凶。初六： 井泥不食，旧井无禽。 九二： 井谷射鲋，瓮敝漏。 九三： 井渫不食，为我心恻；可用汲，王明，并受其福。 六四： 井甃，无咎。 九五： 井冽，寒泉食。 上六： 井收勿幕，有孚元吉。
The Tuan Commentary (Tuan Zhuan)
《彖》曰：巽乎水而上水，井。井养而不穷也。改邑不改井，乃以刚中也。汔至亦未繘井，未有功也。羸其瓶，是以凶也。
Interpretation: Yielding to the nature of water and drawing it upward—this is The Well hexagram. A well nurtures without exhaustion. Towns may change, but the well does not, due to firm strength at the center (lines 2 & 5). The water almost reached but the rope did not yet draw it from the well signifies lack of achievement. The broken jug is why there is misfortune.
The Great Image & Specific Line Images (Xiang Zhuan)
《象》曰：木上有水，井。君子以劳民劝相。
Interpretation: Wood above draws up water—the image of the well nurturing others, which constitutes The Well hexagram. The noble person, emulating this, labors for the people and encourages them to aid one another.
《象》曰：
- 井泥不食，下也；旧井无禽，时舍也。
- 井谷射鲋，无与也。
- 井渫不食，行恻也；求王明，受福也。
- 井甃无咎，修井也。
- 寒泉之食，中正也。
- 元吉在上，大成也。
Interpretation: "Mud in the well; it is not drunk," signifies being in a lowly position. "An old well is not visited by birds" means being abandoned by the times. "A spring in the valley that shoots small fish," indicates having no assistance. "The well is cleared, yet not drunk," makes the path sad. "Seeking the enlightened king" leads to sharing blessings. "Lining the well without blame" is repairing the way of the well. "Cool spring water can be drunk" signifies holding the central, correct position. "The great auspiciousness at the top" signifies great completion of the well's nourishing purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Well Hexagram Primarily Auspicious or Ominous?
Answer: The Well is a moderately auspicious hexagram. Repairing the well (cultivating virtue) and benefiting the world brings good fortune, whereas neglecting the well and failing to follow through leads to misfortune.
What is the meaning of "The town may change, but the well does not" in The Well hexagram?
Answer: Towns can shift and change, but a well remains fixed in its place. This serves as a metaphor for the constancy of the noble person's virtue and integrity, which should not change due to external circumstances.
What scenarios are appropriate for The Well hexagram?
Answer: This hexagram aligns well with scenarios involving self-cultivation and building virtue, appointing worthy talent, benefiting and supporting the people, and persevering with constancy. It is less suitable for scenarios involving neglecting one's virtue or giving up halfway.
What insight does drawing The Well hexagram provide regarding career or self-cultivation?
Answer: It advises cultivating virtue to benefit the world and remaining constant and steadfast. The cool, nourishing spring of the Nine in the Fifth Place is most auspicious, and the great completion of the Top Six is greatly auspicious. The First Six cautions against self-neglect and failing to cultivate oneself.
What is the relationship between The Well (井) and The Hardship/Ensnarement (困) hexagrams?
Answer: The Hardship hexagram (困) primarily signifies depleted water in a lake (marsh), a state of personal distress and adversity. The Well hexagram (井) represents inexhaustible well water, constantly nourishing others and benefiting the world. These two hexagrams are inverse forms of each other (reverse trigrams, constituting Zong Gua). One signifies hardship, the other nurture—they are opposite yet complementary aspects.
FAQ
What is the general meaning of Hexagram 48, The Well?
Hexagram 48, The Well (水风井), symbolizes an inexhaustible source of nourishment and the virtue of constancy. It teaches that while external circumstances may change (like a town moving), the essential source of virtue and nourishment should remain steady, like a well. The core principle involves self-cultivation to nurture others, consistent hard work, and encouraging mutual support. While it leans moderately auspicious, it warns that negligence in following through with one's responsibilities can lead to misfortune.
What does the broken jug mentioned in the Core Judgment signify?
The imagery of "the rope almost reaches the water but the jug is broken" is an ominous warning. It symbolizes coming close to achieving one's goal of drawing nourishment (virtue, resources, or success) but then failing at the final moment due to a flaw in one's method or vessel (i.e., character, planning, or execution). The broken jug represents an inability to contain or deliver what has been drawn, leading to wasted effort and misfortune.
How should I interpret the different Line Statements of The Well?
Each of the six lines describes a state of "the well" and offers a corresponding lesson in personal cultivation and service:
- Line 1 (Bottom): A neglected, muddy well. It advises that unrefined or unmaintained virtue is useless and attracts no one.
- Line 2: Water is available, but the vessel leaks. It warns that talent or resources are of no benefit if you are incapable of properly utilizing or sharing them.
- Line 3: The well is clean but unused. It speaks to the frustration of unrecognized virtue and talent, and the hope for an enlightened leader to discover and utilize it.
- Line 4: The well is reinforced with tiles. This represents taking proactive steps to consolidate and strengthen one's character and integrity, which prevents blame.
- Line 5 (Center): The well is cool and drinkable. This is the ideal state: being in a central, honorable position with perfected, pure virtue that benefits and nourishes all.
- Line 6 (Top): The completed well is left open. It signifies the culmination of self-cultivation, urging you to remain open, sincere, and generous in sharing blessings without seeking reward, leading to great fortune.
What is the significance of the Water and Wind/Wood trigrams in this hexagram?
The symbolism is direct and practical. The upper trigram is Kan (☵), representing Water—specifically the water in the well or the deep spring. The lower trigram is Xun (☴), representing Wind and, in this context, the associated element Wood—symbolizing the wooden tools (like a bucket on a rope) used to draw water up. Therefore, the entire image is "wood below water," picturing the action of drawing water upward from a deep source. It emphasizes that virtue (the water) must be actively accessed and applied (the wood) to nurture life.
How can The Well guide someone in leadership or service roles?
For leaders, The Well emphasizes that your role is to be a constant, reliable source of nourishment and support for your people ("laboring the people and encouraging mutual aid"). Your virtue, policies, and character should be as unchanging and trustworthy as a good well. The hexagram advises against complacency; you must continually "repair the well" by strengthening your integrity (like lining it with tiles) and ensuring your "vessel" (methods, communication) is sound. True leadership, as shown in the top line, is completing great work and leaving the resource open for all without seeking to control or cover it.
In what life situations might The Well hexagram be particularly relevant?
The Well's theme of constancy and nourishment applies to various scenarios. It is relevant when you are building a lasting foundation, such as a career, relationship, or personal practice. It advises focusing on becoming a source of reliable value for others. It can also appear when you feel your talents are going unrecognized (Line 3) or when you sense a "leak" in your plans that prevents success (Line 2). In times of change, it reminds you to hold fast to your core principles—your personal "well" that does not change even if the "town" around you does.
What is the core lesson a person should take from receiving The Well?
The core lesson is two-fold. First, cultivate a deep and constant inner virtue that remains unshaken by external changes. Second, understand that this virtue is not for hoarding; it is meant to be drawn upon to nurture and serve the community. Success comes not just from having depth (the water) but from having the right tools and consistency to draw from it and share it effectively with others.
How does The Well relate to concepts of community and mutual support?
The hexagram is fundamentally communal. A well is a shared resource, and its symbolism implies interdependence. The "noble person labors the people and encourages mutual aid" points to a model where the leader works alongside others to maintain the communal resource, fostering a culture of mutual support. It suggests that personal cultivation (fixing your own well) directly contributes to the collective good, as everyone benefits from reliable, shared sources of nourishment.