63 · 水火既济

既济卦原文

既济。亨，小利贞，初吉终乱。

象曰：水在火上，既济。君子以思患而预防之。

白话文解释

既济卦：亨通。这是小见吉利的贞卜。起初吉利，最后将发生变故。

《象辞》说：本卦上卦为坎，坎为水；下卦为巽，巽为火。水上火下，水浇火熄，是既济之卦的卦象。君子观此卦象，从而有备于无患之时，防范于未然之际。

《断易天机》解

既济卦坎上离下，为坎宫三世卦。既济就是说已经成功，事情已经摆平。但还需谨慎，当心物极必反。

北宋易学家邵雍解

济助有成，坚忍自重；由大而小，确保盛运。

得此卦者，事业有成，成功之象，但谨防盛极必衰，宜退守为吉，再进则凶。

台湾国学大儒傅佩荣解

时运：盛极必衰，谨防后患。

财运：及时出手，可得利润。

家宅：大厦可居；百年好合。

身体：大病初愈，仍需自理。

传统解卦

这个卦是异卦（下离上坎）相叠。坎为水，离为火，水火相交，水在火上，水势压倒火势，救火大功告成。既，已经；济，成也。既济就是事情已经成功，但终将发生变故。

大象：坎水在离火之上，水性下注，火势上炎，水火相济，完成之意。

运势：名利双收，成功之象，但须防物极必反，初吉后凶。

事业：处在顺利和兴旺的阶段，甚至大功已经告成。如何才能保住这种势头，是问题的关键。必须认识盛极将衰的真理，思患预防，防微杜渐，有备可无患。同时，一定要密切注意形势，抓住有利时机，继续奋发向上，推动事业发展。

经商：由于市场形势有利，已经赚得许多，但同时也预示着危机的随时出现。因此，务必小心在意，事未到，先预防，终日提防戒惧。同时，认真观察市场的变化，随时转向，开拓新市场。

求名：个人追求名利的基本条件已经具备。必须防止因此而变得僵化和保守，以致功亏一篑，半途而废。

婚恋：起初顺利，中途会出现挫折。

决策：各方面条件都很好，环境又有利于成长。但因此反而会使自己满足，停止前进，甚至变得颓废，趋向没落。一定要不断刻苦努力，保持谦虚美德，常怀不安之心，防止不测事件发生。

既济卦，这个卦是异卦相叠，下卦为离，上卦为坎。坎为水，离为火，水火相交，水在火上，水势压倒火势，完成了救火的任务。既，已经；济，成也。既济就是事情已经成功，但终将发生变故。

既济卦位于小过卦之后，《序卦》中这样解释道：“有过物者必济，故受之以既济。”矫正小的过失就可以获得成功，所以接着谈既济卦。

《象》中这样解释本爻：水在火上，既济；君子以思患而预防之。这里指出：既济卦的卦象是离（火）下坎（水）上，为水在火上之表象，比喻用火煮食物，食物已熟，象征事情已经成功；君子应有远大的目光，在事情成功之后，就要考虑将来可能出现的种种弊端，防患于未然，采取预防措施。

既济卦象征成功，启示的是盛极将衰的道理，此卦属于中上卦。《象》曰：金榜以上题姓名，不负当年苦用功，人逢此卦名吉庆，一切谋望大亨通。

初九爻的哲学含义

63　高岛易断-水火既济（䷾）

卦本地天《泰》，《泰》交故水火济。水在地中，未升于器，火在木中，尚丽于空，卦取润下者加诸火上，取炎上者搐诸水下，是谓《既济》。此卦所以名水火《既济》也。

既济：亨，小利贞。初吉，终乱。

“济”者，渡也，“既”者，尽也，万事皆济，故曰《既济》。卦取《坎》《离》，坎水润下，《离》火炎上，相交为用，阴阳和会，百务就理，无有不亨。然《既济》之亨，亨犹其小者耳，故曰“亨小”。在处既济者，犹当勿侈其亨，在励其贞，贞于初，亦贞于终，斯有吉无乱矣，故曰“利贞”。若不能长保其贞，则亨通未久，危乱随之，故曰“初吉，终乱”。

《彖传》曰：既济亨，小者亨也。利贞，刚柔正而位当也。初吉，柔得中也。终止则乱，其道穷也。

《序卦传》曰：“有过物者必济，故受之以既济。”譬如有过人之才德者，然后可以济世，此《既济》所以继《小过》也。《既济》《未济》，处《 易·下经》之终，其象皆取诸《坎》《离》。《坎》《离》者，天地之大道，水火者，人生之大用。水得火不寒，而资生之利普；火得水不燥，而烹饪之功成。水火相济，谓之《既济》，《既济》者，刚柔得中，物无不济，虽小亦通，故曰“亨小”。《传》曰“小者亨也”，小者尚亨，何况于大？盖亨之道，由既济而来，则得其亨者，更当保其既济，是宜“利贞”。“刚柔正而位当”，《既济》之所以为《既济》者，在此矣，由是而得亨，由是而得贞，亦由是而有始，由是而有终，则有治无乱可也。《传》曰“初吉，终乱”，正为不能持终者戒焉。故凡当既济之时，所贵防微杜渐，持盈保泰，斯汲汲求治，不至有初而鲜终也；若徒拘于目前，而志满气盈，不自乾惕，则治于此止，即乱于此起矣，可不慎哉！《传》以“柔得中”释“初吉”，谓柔小尚得其中，则刚大无不济矣，是以吉也。以道之穷释“终乱“，谓进修既以中止，则前功必难恃矣，是以乱也。

以此卦拟人事，人事之用，莫大乎水火。在人身则以血气为水，以心神为火，在日用则灌溉必需水，烹饪必需火；且水非火，亦无以奏其功，火非水，则无以成其用。盖水火虽相克，而实以相成，相成则相济，相济则相通。使小有来通，即不足谓之济也，既济则无不通矣，故曰“既济亨小”。是既济在人事，大而邦家，小而身心，穷通得失，生死存亡之故，皆在其中。《传》曰“小者亨也”，而大者要亦无不亨矣。卦体以柔居柔，以刚居刚，各得其正，即各当其位，譬如人事之无所偏曲，道在利贞，而邪僻自不得行也。“柔得中”，谓《离》之中虚，虚则明，《离》在下，故曰“初吉”；“终止则乱”，谓《坎》之中满，满则危，《坎》在上，故曰“终乱”。凡人事之靡不有初，鲜克有终，观夫《既济》，当知所戒矣。

以此卦拟国家，为卦内《离》外《坎》，《坎》，难也，《离》，明也，是以《离》明而济《坎》难，即《明夷》所云文明柔顺，而蒙大难之旨也。以明济难，而难定矣；是之谓《既济》，既济而视若未济，则济于初，亦济于终，斯亨者永亨，贞者永贞，而治道庶乎其不穷矣。若既济而自恃为既济，其道穷也，自古帝王精一危微之传，其在兹乎？《大象》所云思患预防者，正所以保既济之终也已。

通观此卦，《 易》六十四卦，首《乾》《坤》，《上经》三十卦，终《坎》《离》，以其为天地之终也；《下经》三十四卦，终《既济》《未济》，以其为《坎》《离》之交也。天下之事，《未济》则忧其不济，《既济》则宜图其永济，然无终不初，无往不来，一治一乱者，天也，一阴一阳者，道也，天无无阴之阳，世无不乱之治。今以爻观，六位得所，未有如《既济》者，奇偶各三，其数均也；以阴居阴，以阳居阳，其位当也；六爻上下，刚柔相配，其应正也。《乾》《坤》以来，三百七十二爻，循环往复，变化交错，而后得《既济》。《离》明在内，坎险在外，明以消险，以开济世成功之会，由此而慎始图终，有治无乱，固万世人民之幸福也。然乱极思治，治极思乱，天运剥复，卦象已示其机矣。下《离》而互《坎》，上《坎》而互《离》，反复之象也。以阴而乘阳，初治而终止，盛衰之兆也，故《彖》曰“终止则乱”。可知造化之数，不能长治久安者，非人力之强排，可以终济也。又以图数推之，初刚，二柔，三刚，四柔，五刚，六柔，与天一，地二，天三，地四，天五，地六，其数正合，然至六而止，是亦天地无完数也，所以《未济》方来，皆自然之法象。故众人以《既济》为喜，圣人以《既济》为忧，何者？未治易治，既治难保。六爻之孜孜以保济者，各有次序焉：初为济之始，力求其济者也；二得济之中，不失其济者也；三涉济之险，言其济之甚难也；四处济之时，惧其济而复失也；五受济之福，喜其济之合时也；六当济之极，虑其济之不可久也。凡卦皆至终而穷，《既济》之终，则为《未济》，六十四卦穷于《未济》。《既济》变而为《未济》，岂但《既济》之穷而已哉！则“初吉”其可恃乎哉？

《象》曰：水在火上，既济。君子以思患而豫防之。

水性润下，火性炎上，水在火上，火在水下，二者相资为用，得以成《既济》之功也。君子玩其象，而凛凛焉，不以《既济》为可恃，更以《既济》为可危。坎险在外，防患之象；《离》明在内，预思之象。祸每生于不测，害即伏于既安，预时而防之，则可以保其“初吉”，即可以戢其“终乱”，故曰“君子以思患而豫防之”。

【占】　问时运：运途全盛，盛极必衰，须防后患。

○　问营商：目下货物，得时得价，正当满足，须留后步。

○　问功名：居高思危，得防其终。

○　问战征：大难既平，大险既定，战胜功成，还宜图始保终，毋贻后患。

○　问家宅：大厦既成，苟完苟合，贻谋孔远。

○　问婚姻：有好合百年之兆。

○　问疾病：大病既痊，更宜自保。

○　问讼事：毋再涉讼。

○　问六甲：春夏生女，秋冬生男。

Judgment

Legge: Completion intimates progress and success in small matters. There is advantage in firm correctness. There had been good fortune in the beginning; there may be disorder in the end.

Wilhelm/Baynes: After Completion. Success in small matters. Perseverance furthers. At the beginning good fortune, at the end disorder.

Blofeld: After Completion -- success in small matters! Persistence in a righteous course brings reward. Good fortune at the start; disorder in the end. [Perhaps persistence may help to lessen the disorder that threatens to come upon us after some initial success.]

Liu: Completion. Success in the small. It benefits to continue. Good fortune at first; disorder in the end.

Ritsema/Karcher: Already Fording. Growing: the small. Harvesting Trial. Initially significant. Completing: disarraying. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of an important move from one position to another. It emphasizes that actively proceeding with the crossing is the adequate way to handle it...]

Shaughnessy: Already Completed: Receipt; slightly beneficial to determine; initially auspicious, in the end disordered.

Cleary (1): Settlement is developmental, but it is minimized. It is beneficial to be correct. The beginning is auspicious, the end confused.

Cleary (2): Settlement is successful, even in small matters … etc.

Wu: Mission Accomplished indicates a small degree of pervasiveness and the advantage of being persevering. It is characterized by goodness in the beginning, but tumult in the end.

The Image

Legge: The image of water above fire forms Completion. The superior man, in accordance with this, thinks of the evil that may come, and guards against it in advance.

Wilhelm/Baynes: Water over fire: the image of the condition in After Completion. Thus the superior man takes thought of misfortune and arms himself against it in advance.

Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes water above fire. The Superior Man deals with trouble by careful thought and by taking advance precautions.

Liu: Water above fire symbolizes Completion. The superior man ponders danger and takes precautions against it.

Ritsema/Karcher: Stream located above fire. Already Fording. A chun tzu uses pondering distress and-also providing-for defending-against it.

Cleary (1): Water is above fire, Settled. Thus superior people consider problems and prevent them.

Wu: There is water above fire; this is Mission Accomplished. Thus the jun zi conceives ways to prevent disaster.

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: Progress and success in small matters, with advantage in firm correctness. The dynamic and magnetic lines are correctly arranged, each in its proper place. There has been good fortune in the beginning because the magnetic second line is in the center. In the end there is a cessation of effort, and disorder arises. The course that led to rule and order is now exhausted.

Legge: The two written Chinese characters translated here as Completion represent

two ideas -- the symbol of being past or completed, and the symbol of crossing a stream -with a secondary meaning of helping and completing. When combined, the two characters express the idea of successful accomplishment. The hexagram denotes the kingdom finally

at rest -- the vessel of state has been brought safely across the great and dangerous stream, the distresses of the realm have been relieved and its disorders rectified. Small things need to be completed: the new government must be consolidated and its ruler must, without noise or clamor, go on to perfect what has been wrought with firm correctness and without forgetting the inherent instability of all human affairs. That every line of the hexagram is in its correct place, and has its proper correlate emphasizes the intimation of progress and success. The K'ang-hsi editors compare this hexagram and the next with number eleven, Harmony, and number twelve, Divorcement, observing that the goodness of Harmony is concentrated, as here, in the second line. Disorder after completion is inevitable. All things move on with a constant process of change. Disorder succeeds

to order, and again order to disorder.

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Judgment: All's well that ends well, but the new cycle demands as much willpower as the last. Make no drastic choices during a transition. The Superior Man anticipates conflict and is prepared for it in advance. The sixty-third hexagram is the reference hexagram which depicts the correlation of properly matched dynamic and magnetic lines. On the basis of this figure, all of the other hexagrams (except the first and second, which are their "parents"), are compared. Yet, despite the fact that every line is in its proper place, not one of them has an easy auspice, and both the Judgment and Image are subdued and cautionary. The general idea is that as long as we draw breath in this spacetime dimension, our lives and Work are incomplete. Cycles complete themselves, certainly, but Completion in that sense is the "completion" of the full moon, which as soon as it reaches maximum brilliance immediately begins to wane. Among those engaged in psycho-spiritual work, there is a great deal of energy focused on "enlightenment," and the natural desire of each aspirant to attain that state of consciousness as soon as possible. Many there are who wander from one conception of the Work to another in the hope that this particular discipline, or that particular Guru will provide the transcendent answer that the last one didn't. This is a very deceptive illusion, because the chances that any given individual will attain perfect enlightenment in any given lifetime are probably miniscule to the point of insignificance. (How many truly enlightened beings have you ever met in your life?) But the first signs of this symbolism are far from indicating that unity has been attained. Just as alchemy has a great many procedures, ranging from the "work of one day" to the "the errant quest" lasting for decades, so the tensions between the psychic pair of opposites ease off only gradually; and, like the alchemical endproduct, which always betrays its essential duality, the united personality will never quite lose the painful sense of innate discord. Complete redemption from the sufferings of this world is and must remain an illusion ... The goal is important only as an idea; the essential thing is the opus which leads to the goal: that is the goal of a lifetime. In its attainment "left and right" are united, and conscious and unconscious work in harmony.

Jung-- Psychology of the Transference The Work is a slow, organic process of transforming unconscious forces, which demands almost superhuman levels of discipline to accomplish. One can make a great deal of progress in one lifetime, but the Work can not be said to be complete until physical

death “completes” it -- at that point, assuming the ego has acquired enough strength of will, perhaps one can facilitate a "permanent" synthesis of the forces one has spent a lifetime in training. Death is the doorway back to our Source, and if we enter that doorway

consciously and correctly we can consolidate a great deal of power which will serve us well in the next cycle, in whatever dimension that cycle may take place. It is even doubtful whether a man can arrive at the summit of all perfection as long as he lives in an imperfect physical form, because the imperfections of the form hamper the spirit, and only a spirit that has outgrown the necessity to live in a physical form may be said to have arrived at that high degree of perfection at which a perfect knowledge of self, and consequently a perfect knowledge of the universe is obtained.

F. Hartmann -- Paracelsus: Life and Prophecies