43 · Breakthrough (GUÀI)
Breakthrough means making a decision openly and taking responsibility for it. The judgment asks for a truthful public call and warns against turning straight to force. Each line tests the manner of decision: rash steps fail, steady vigilance helps, lonely resolve has a cost, stubbornness stalls, a central course checks excess, and delay can leave no one to call.
The judgment
Breakthrough: announce it in the royal court; call out with sincerity. There is danger. Inform your own town. It is not beneficial to resort at once to arms; it is beneficial to have somewhere to go.
Make the problem visible where it can be judged, tell those affected and acknowledge the danger. The text specifically rejects an immediate turn to arms. Decisive action begins with accountable speech.
Original Chinese text
夬：揚于王庭，孚號，有厲，告自邑，不利即戎，利有攸往。
The six lines
- 初九 · Line 1 — Strength in the forward toes: go and fail to prevail, and that becomes a fault.
Original Chinese
壯于前趾，往不勝為咎。
- 九二 · Line 2 — Call out in vigilance. Even if there is danger of armed men in the dark night, do not be anxious.
Original Chinese
惕號，莫夜有戎，勿恤。
- 九三 · Line 3 — Strength in the cheek: misfortune. A cultivated person decides decisively; walking alone, he meets rain, is soaked and vexed, yet without blame.
Original Chinese
壯于頄，有凶。君子夬夬，獨行遇雨，若濡有慍，无咎。
- 九四 · Line 4 — Buttocks without skin; his steps falter. Leading a sheep would remove regret, but he hears words and does not believe them.
Original Chinese
臀无膚，其行次且。牽羊悔亡，聞言不信。
- 九五 · Line 5 — Decide against the soft amaranth-like growth; walk the middle way and there is no blame.
Original Chinese
莧陸夬夬，中行无咎。
- 上六 · Line 6 — There is no call; in the end there is misfortune.
Original Chinese
无號，終有凶。