25. Innocence

Judgment

无妄：元亨利贞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。

Supreme success, perseverance furthers. If someone is not as they should be, misfortune; it does not further to undertake anything. Authenticity without calculation.

Image

天下雷行，物与无妄；先王以茂对时育万物。

Under heaven thunder rolls; all things attain the natural state of innocence. The ancient kings, rich in virtue and in harmony with the time, fostered all beings.

Lines

1. Line 1, yang (nine)

   初九：无妄，往吉。

   Innocent behaviour brings good fortune. Sincere action finds its way.

2. Line 2, yin (six)

   六二：不耕获，不菑畬，则利有攸往。

   If one does not count on the harvest while ploughing, nor on the use of the ground while clearing it, it furthers to undertake something. Focus on process, not on expected returns.

3. Line 3, yin (six)

   六三：无妄之灾，或系之牛，行人之得，邑人之灾。

   Undeserved misfortune: the cow tethered by someone is the wanderer's gain and the citizen's loss. Unforeseen loss happens—have contingency plans.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：可贞，无咎。

   He who can be persevering remains without blame. Hold your ground; don't change for change's sake.

5. Line 5, yang (nine)

   九五：无妄之疾，勿药有喜。

   Use no medicine in an illness incurred through no fault of your own; it will pass of itself. Not every problem needs intervention.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：无妄，行有眚，无攸利。

   Innocent action brings misfortune; nothing furthers. The moment has passed—forcing it invites trouble.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of integrity, authenticity and uncertainty: business ethics, black-swan events, anti-speculative culture. 'Use no medicine' warns against over-management: not every issue needs an intervention.

Psychological lens

Resonates with the illusion of control and intervention bias; 'not counting on the harvest' reflects intrinsic, process-oriented motivation.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• After a black-swan event Enterprise, Line 3, yin (six)
• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation Enterprise, Line 2, yin (six)
• The ethics of lobbying Enterprise, Judgment
• When integrity is questioned Enterprise, Line 4, yang (nine)
• A culture of integrity Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
• A conflict of values Individuals, Judgment
• Investing vs. speculating Individuals, Line 2, yin (six)
• Approaching feng shui rationally Individuals, Line 5, yang (nine)
• Mishaps while travelling Individuals, Line 3, yin (six)
• Originality and imitation Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Taking a stand on public issues Individuals, Line 4, yang (nine)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.