25 · Innocence (WÚ WÀNG)
Innocence is action without false intent, moving in accord with the right way. It does not guarantee no surprises, but asks us not to force outcomes with delusion.
The judgment
Innocence: great success, favourable to steadfastness. What is not right has disaster; it is not favourable to go anywhere.
With upright innocence there is success. When intent is crooked, pressing forward only multiplies error.
Original Chinese text
無妄，元亨，利貞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。
The six lines
- 初九 · Line 1 — Go in innocence. Good fortune.
Original Chinese
無妄往，吉。
- 六二 · Line 2 — Do not plow for harvest or clear for the next field; then it is favourable to go forward.
Original Chinese
不耕穫，不菑畬，則利有攸往。
- 六三 · Line 3 — An innocent disaster: someone ties a cow; a passerby gets it, the villager suffers loss.
Original Chinese
無妄之災，或繫之牛，行人之得，邑人之災。
- 九四 · Line 4 — One may be steadfast. No blame.
Original Chinese
可貞，無咎。
- 九五 · Line 5 — An innocent illness: do not medicate, and there is joy.
Original Chinese
無妄之疾，勿藥有喜。
- 上九 · Line 6 — Innocent action goes forward: there is fault; nothing is favourable.
Original Chinese
無妄行，有眚，無攸利。