64 · 火水未济

未济卦原文

未济。亨，小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利。

象曰：火在水上，未济。君子以慎辨物居方。

白话文解释

未济卦：亨通。小狐狸快要渡过河，却打湿了尾巴。看来此行无所利。

《象辞》说：本卦上卦为离，离为火；下卦为坎，坎为水。火在水上，水不能克火，是未济卦的卦象。君子观此卦象，有感于水火错位不能相克，从而以谨慎的态度辨辩事物的性质，审视其方位。

《断易天机》解

未济卦离上坎下，为离宫三世卦。未济就是未完成，此卦爻位不正，形象上极端恶劣，但变化在酝酿之中，未来充满希望。

北宋易学家邵雍解

不能资助，待时而动；由小而大，不可躁进。

得此卦者，运势不通，诸事不能如愿，宜由小及大，稳步进取，要耐心去突破难关，则终可成功。

台湾国学大儒傅佩荣解

时运：运势颠倒，务必谨慎。

财运：诸事不顺，步步为营。

家宅：改变方向；门户不合。

身体：血脉不顺，用药谨慎。

传统解卦

这个卦是异卦（下坎上离）相叠。离为火，坎为水。火上水下，火势压倒水势，救火大功未成，故称未济。《周易》以乾坤二卦为始，以既济、未济二卦为终，充分反映了变化发展的思想。

大象：水性下注，火势向上，水火不交，阴阳不得正位，未能完成和未能成功之意。

运势：运气欠佳，但必须耐心突破难关，终可成功，有初凶后吉之象。

事业：处于最后的关键时刻，成功与否就在眼前，因此务必不可掉以轻心。自我节制非常重要，坚持到底，必要时也可能慎重地进行适度冒险，以成就事业。

经商：市场处于大变动的前夕，前景如何尚不明显。这是最为艰苦的时期，头脑必须冷静，切勿冒险，不可行动过度，适度节制，观察动向，决定行动。

求名：长期的努力和追求即会有结果。在成败的关键时刻应泰然自若，听天由命，顺其自然。

婚恋：已经渡过了困难阶段，再慎重地加把劲，会有美满的结果。

决策：此卦的意思是“未完成”，表明前途无量，有充分发展的可能。因此，必须坚持中正的原则，以明智、中庸、诚信、谦逊的态度，成就事业。面对人生，唯有勤勤恳恳，极力尽人事，听天命，不必过分计较成功与否。

第六十四卦的哲学含义

未济卦，这个卦是异卦相叠，下卦为坎，上卦为离。离为火，坎为水。火上水下，火势压倒水势，救火大功未成，故称未济。

未济卦位于既济卦之后，《序卦》这样解释道：“物不可穷也，故受之以未济。终焉。”既济卦是久则穷，所以必须重启生机，以显示变易而不穷的《易经》原理，也就是以未济卦作为六十四卦的压轴。“未济”是尚未完成也尚未结《象》中解释未济卦：火在水上，未济；君子以慎辨物居方。这里指出：未济卦的卦象是坎（水）下离（火）上，为火在水上之表象。火在水上，大火燃烧，水波浩浩，水火相对相克，象征着未完成；君子此时要明辨各种事物，看到事物的本质，努力使事物的变化趋向好的方面，这样做则万事可成。

未济卦象征事业未竟，属于中下卦。《象》中这样来断此卦：离地着人几丈深，是防偷营劫寨人，后封太岁为凶煞，时加谨慎祸不侵。

64　高岛易断-火水未济(䷿)

《未济》反《既济》，以《既济》之上卦，反而居下，《既济》之下卦，反而居上。火与水相背不交，是炎上者未能成其炎，润下者未能致其润，此卦所以名火水《未济》也。

未济：亨，小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利。

不曰不济，而曰“未济”，非安处不济也，未耳。盖《未济》而自有可济，亦未亨而自有可亨，故曰“未济亨”。《坎》为小狐，“汔”，几也。济必登岸，始为《既济》，一步不至，犹未也，“汔济”安得为济哉！小狐力弱，中流失济，尾重不掉，难免濡矣，复有何利？故曰“小狐汔济，濡其尾，无攸利”也。

《 彖传》曰：未济，亨，柔得中也。小狐汔济，未出中也。濡其尾，无攸利，不续终也。虽不当位；刚柔应也。

此卦下《坎》上《离》，《坎》为水，《离》为火，火上水下，水火不相交，即水火不相为用，为天地昏而未旦，宇宙混而未开之会也。《既济》《未济》，《彖》皆言“亨”，《既济》之亨，已然之亨；《未济》之亨，未然之亨。未然之亨，而终可得亨者，以其柔之得中也。小狐不能涉川，不自量力，贸然前进，虽几乎济，而终至不济，未能出险之中也。三四当卦之冲，《坎》尽于三，故未出中；未出中，则飘泊中流，欲进不能，欲退不得，是足未登，而尾已濡矣，“不续终”者，谓续《既济》之终也。《既济》之终，乃《未济》之始，《既济》之首，乃《未济》之尾。《既济》之终而濡首，则《既济》几不保其终，所望《未济》续之耳。乃《未济》而濡尾，则不能续《既济》之首，即不能续《既济》之终矣。《既济》《未济》，首尾相接，终而复始，不续其终，譬如寒暑不错行，日月不代明，而天地亦几于息矣，况于人事乎？故“无攸利”。处《未济》者，所当原始要终，力求其济，勿效“小狐汔济”而濡尾也。在一时之《未济》者，无他，以其位之不当也，然位虽不当，要自有可济之理。《既济》之为《既济》，无非以刚柔之相应，《未济》亦同此刚柔，由未而既，在此一济，即在此一续，则《未济》之终，亦即为《既济》之终，而乾元亦由是而始焉。

以此卦拟人事，人生涉世，不能无险，不能不求其济。当其未济，固不可安于未济，所当黾勉以期其济。安于未济，则终不济矣；黾勉以期其济，虽一时未济，而终必可济也。《未济》而进为《既济》，《既济》之亨即可为《未济》之亨矣，故《未济》亦亨。处未济者，由此济彼，涉夫险中，即出夫险外，必求彼岸之登，不为中道之划。《既济》之首可续，《未济》之尾不濡，复何往而不利者哉！人事当此，绝而复续，终而复始，已然者保而无失，未然者进而无穷，如是则未济者必济矣。而一时犹有未济者，以其位之不当也。按爻位必火在下，则水受其煎，必水在上，则火奏其功，颠倒失位，是两不相用也；不相用，则不相济，然亦非终不济也。卦体上互《离》，下立《坎》，《坎》刚《离》柔，上下相互，即上下相应，《既济》之为既济，在此刚柔之相应，《未济》之进为既济，亦在此刚柔之相应耳。以柔济刚，即以终续始，复有何险之不济哉！天道循环，人事代更，要不外此刚柔之相应而已。

以此卦拟国家，国家之兴衰治乱，颠覆存亡，惟在《既济》与《未济》相续相保而已矣。作《 易》者在殷周之际，论者谓《既济》之卦属诸殷纣，《未济》之卦属诸周文，文当蒙难艰贞，正值未济之时也，而小心翼翼，不回厥德，乃所以求其济焉。彼密祟之距侵，皆小狐之汔济，其何能济哉！惟文以柔顺文明，蒙此大难，率能无畔援，无歆羡，诞登道岸，其济也，其亨也，其得天人之相助，而成其济也，庶几大畏小怀，无往而不利者矣。乃能以周继殷，即周之未济，以续殷之既济，则殷之变而为周者，亦即此首尾之相续也。后世继周而值《未济》者，皆当取法于文也。《诗》云“淠彼泾舟，亟徒棹之”，可想见其济之亨也已。

通观此卦，《既济》者功已毕，《未济》者事复始，终而复始，有生生之义焉。“生生之谓《易》”，《易》所以终于《未济》也。《既济》者水在上，势欲下，火在下，势欲上，二气参和，交致其用；《未济》反是，炎上者上升，流下者反下，分背不交，不相为用。致用则其用已成，不相为用，而其用正有待也，此即五德相乘，四时递嬗，无绝不续之运会也。《坎》《离》之既《未济》，犹《乾》《坤》之《泰》《否》，《泰》极则《否》，《既济》而后《未济》，其象同焉。为卦下三爻为《未济》中之《未济》，上三爻则为《未济》中之《既济》，由未而既，故爻象视《既济》为吉，卦体《坎》上《离》下，《离》为日，《坎》为夜，《离》明《坎》暗，《离》虚《坎》实，德莫大于明，道莫神于虚，故《坎》降而《离》升，《坎》隐在内，《离》明在外，日丽天上，水行地下，《乾》《坤》正位，法象之自然也。圣人于此，当其既济，不忘未济之念，当其未济，倍切既济之图，业必慎于创始，功不隳于垂成，俾天运得以永贞，治道得以久安，岂不甚愿？无如阴阳倒置，爻位失当，《坎》《离》各安其宅，水火互藏其用，卦所以为《未济》也。在六爻，位皆不当，而刚柔则各相应也。初濡尾，无济之具也；二曳轮，得济之具也；三涉川，以躁动而凶也。内卦三爻，皆为欲济而犹未济者也。四“有赏”，以《震》伐而行志也；五辉光，以“有孚”而获吉也；上濡首，以饮食而失节也。外卦三爻，皆进《未济》而为《既济》者也。爻以二五为正应，故皆曰“贞吉”；初与四虽应，初当济之始，四得济之中，故初不如四吉；三与上皆处极位，三以《未济》而失利，上以《既济》而失节，故皆示以为戒，戒之正，所以保其终也。《 易》之道以不终为终，乃无终而非始，故《乾》曰“无首”，《坤》曰“大终”。六十四卦，不终于《既济》，而终于《未济》，为《既济》者已尽，《未济》者无穷，以既启未，以未续既，《乾》《坤》之大用，即在《坎》《离》之相续也。

《大象》曰：火在水上，未济。君子以慎辨物居方。

火热水寒，物之各异其性也；《离》南《坎》北，方之各殊其位也。火在水上，是炎上润下，并失其位，两不相济也，故曰《未济》。君子观其象，而辨之居之，辨其物，使物得其宜，而不相混，居其方，使方从其位，而不相越。皆以审慎而出之，斯知之无不明，处之无不当，而其未济者乃可进于济矣，故曰“君子以慎辨物居方”。

【占】　问时运：运途颠倒，诸事须慎。

○　问营商：货物失当，地位不合，所当谨慎处置，方可获利。

○　问功名：未也。

○　问战征：营垒器具，各失所宜，不相为用，急宜慎重审察，斯可免败。

○　问家宅：方向倒置，须当改易。

○　问婚姻：门户不合。

○　问疾病：上下焦血络不通，宜升不升，宜降不降，药方最宜审慎。

○　问失物：辨明方位，可以寻得。

○　问六甲：上月生女，下月生男。

Judgment

Legge: Unfinished Business suggests successful progress, but if the young fox that has nearly crossed the stream gets his tail wet, there will be no advantage.

Wilhelm/Baynes: Before Completion. Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further.

Blofeld: Before Completion -- success! Before the little fox has quite completed its crossing of the ice, its tail gets wet. [This implies that we are to expect a setback in our plans.] No goal (or destination) is favorable now. [Hence this is a time for waiting and for drawing in our horns. That the LAST of the sixty-four hexagrams should be Before Completion rather than After Completion (#63) may seem surprising until it is recalled that there is nothing final about it; the cycle of change continues, passing from hexagram #64 onto the first hexagram, and so on eternally.]

Liu: Before Completion. Success. A young fox almost across wets his tail in the water. Nothing benefits.

Ritsema/Karcher: Not-yet Fording, Growing. The small fox, a muddy Ford. Soaking one's tail: without direction: Harvesting. (Without direction: Harvesting, WU YU Li: no plan or direction is advantageous; in order to take advantage of the situation, do not impose a direction on events.) [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of being on the edge of an important change of situation. It emphasizes that waiting and accumulating energy to begin the upcoming move is the adequate way to handle it...]

Shaughnessy: Not Yet Completed: Receipt; the little fox at the point of fording, wets his tail; there is no place beneficial.

Cleary (1): Being as yet unsettled is developmental. A small fox, having nearly crossed the river, gets its tail wet, does not succeed.

Cleary (2): Being unsettled leads to success. A little fox, almost crossing, gets its tail wet. Nothing is gained.

64 -- Unfinished Business - 64

Wu: Mission yet Unaccomplished indicates pervasiveness. A little fox almost makes it crossing the river, but gets its tail wet. Nothing is gained.

The Image

Legge: Fire over water -- the image of Unfinished Business. The superior man carefully discriminates among the qualities of things, and the different positions they naturally occupy.

Wilhelm: Fire over water: the image of the condition before transition. Thus the superior man is careful in the differentiation of things, so that each finds its place.

Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire above water. The Superior Man takes care to distinguish between things before arranging them in order.

Liu: Fire above water symbolizes Before Completion. The superior man carefully distinguishes things, and puts them in their appropriate place.

Ritsema/Karcher: Fire located above stream. Not-yet Fording. A chun tzu uses considering to mark-off the beings residing on-all-sides.

Cleary (1): Fire is above water, not yet settled. Thus superior people carefully discern things and keep them in their places.

Cleary (2): Fire over water – unsettled.

Wu: There is fire above water; this is Mission yet Unaccomplished. Thus the jun zi makes careful distinction of things and their proper places of being.

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: Progress and success are suggested by the magnetic fifth line in the ruler's place. Although he has nearly crossed the stream, the young fox has not yet escaped from the midst of danger and calamity. Getting his tail wet means that the end does not reflect the intent of the beginning. Although the places of the different lines are not those appropriate to them, yet a dynamic and a magnetic line always respond to each other.

Legge: Unfinished Business is the reverse of Completion: it means that the successful accomplishment of the matter at hand has not yet been realized; the crossing of the great stream is as yet incomplete. Some have wished that the I Ching might have concluded with Completion, and the last hexagram have left us with the picture of human affairs all brought to good order. But this would not have been in harmony with the idea of change. Again and again it has been pointed out that we find in the book no idea of a perfect and abiding state. Just as the seasons of the year change and pursue an ever-recurring round, so it is with the phases

64 -- Unfinished Business - 64 of society. The reign of order has peaked and declined, and this hexagram calls us to renew the struggle to make things right again. It deals with the conduct necessary to secure this result.

Not one of the lines in the hexagram is in its correct place -- all the dynamic lines are in magnetic places, and the magnetic lines are in dynamic places. At the same time, each of them has a proper correlate, so there is the possibility of some progress. The symbol of the fox suggests a want of caution on the part of those who try to remedy prevailing disorders. They are unsuccessful and thereby get themselves into

trouble. Line two represents this state of mind -- he is dynamic in a magnetic place in the center of the trigram of Peril. He is restless, and attracted by his magnetic correlate in the fifth place, he will be incautious in taking action. The outcome of the issue will be different than what was intended at the beginning. The trigram of Water is below, and Fire above, showing how the two principles cannot act on each other profitably. This symbolizes the unregulated condition of general affairs now prevailing.

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Judgment: Although many achievements fuel our growth, the ego is only the facilitator, not the doer. To ignore this truth creates negative consequences: don't destroy the Work! The Superior Man critically examines the situation and re-checks his priorities. This hexagram represents the time before the climax of a cycle, just as the preceding figure symbolizes the time after the climax (and hence the transition to a new

beginning). The Work is by no means "almost over" -- the lines all match as correlates, but every one of them unites "upside-down," so to speak. (Turn the hexagram over, and then they are in perfect correlation.) That the superior man "discriminates among the qualities of things, and the different positions they naturally occupy" means that he knows that the correct positions of the lines (the ones they "naturally occupy") are as in hexagram number sixty-three, not this one. This "backward correlation of lines" is arguably a fair image of the relationship of thoughts and feelings in the average human psyche. The stresses of life are what eventually break up these mismatched correlates through endless cycles of stimulus and response until they finally all unite correctly in a hypothetical "Completion of the Great Work." That this is an ideal rather than a humanly attainable goal is suggested in this quote from Shao Yung: The principle of the Way finds its full development in Heaven; the principle of Heaven, in Earth; the principle of Earth, in the myriad things; and that of the myriad things, in man. One who knows how the principles of Heaven, Earth, and all things find their full development in man can give full development to his people.

64 -- Unfinished Business - 64 For all practical purposes, it is wisest to aspire to attainable completions and realize that the Work's "full development" is the Self's, not the ego's responsibility. To strive for perfection is a high ideal. But I say: "Fulfill something you are able to fulfill rather than run after what you will never achieve." Nobody is perfect.

Remember the saying: "None is good but God alone" [Luke 18:19], and nobody can be. It is an illusion. We can modestly strive to fulfill ourselves and to be as complete human beings as possible, and that will give us trouble enough.

Jung -- The Tavistock Lectures The Judgment suggests that before any climax or resolution there may still exist an

indeterminate amount of free choice to influence the outcome -- only the specific circumstances can suggest how much or how little. As always, the choices are defined within the structure of the situation. The magnetic ruler in the fifth place implies that a favorable outcome is possible, but only through clear perception and willpower can it come about. The conditional interpretation (boldface italics added) in both Legge's and Wilhelm's translation of the Judgment is necessary for its text to make sense. Note that Ritsema/Karcher define "Without direction: Harvesting" as: "No plan or direction is advantageous; in order to take advantage of the situation, do not impose a direction on events." This is a common oracle response, and sharpens the meaning here. Line one depicts the negative consequences of ignoring the Judgment’s explicit message.