40. Deliverance

Judgment

解：利西南，无所往，其来复吉。有攸往，夙吉。

The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune. If there is still something where one has to go, hastening brings good fortune. After a crisis, restore order quickly.

Image

雷雨作，解；君子以赦过宥罪。

Thunder and rain set in: the image of deliverance. The noble person pardons mistakes and forgives misdeeds.

Lines

1. Line 1, yin (six)

   初六：无咎。

   Without blame. Difficulty has just eased: rest quietly.

2. Line 2, yang (nine)

   九二：田获三狐，得黄矢，贞吉。

   One kills three foxes in the field and receives a yellow arrow. Perseverance brings good fortune. Remove hidden threats; act with central uprightness.

3. Line 3, yin (six)

   六三：负且乘，致寇至，贞吝。

   If a man carries a burden on his back and nonetheless rides in a carriage, he thereby encourages robbers to draw near. Perseverance leads to humiliation. Display beyond merit invites trouble.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：解而拇，朋至斯孚。

   Deliver yourself from your great toe. Then the companion comes, and him you can trust. Cut off bad ties first; then sincere partners come.

5. Line 5, yin (six)

   六五：君子维有解，吉；有孚于小人。

   If only the noble person can deliver themself, it brings good fortune. Thus they prove to inferior people that they are in earnest. Release through tolerance and principle.

6. Line 6, yin (six)

   上六：公用射隼于高墉之上，获之，无不利。

   The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall. He kills it. Everything serves to further. Remove the last threat decisively.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of post-crisis recovery, release and forgiveness: restarts after crisis, debt restructuring, settlements, repairing team conflict. 'Pardon mistakes': recovery wisdom means dropping baggage, forgiving errors and returning swiftly to course ('hastening brings good fortune').

Psychological lens

Resonates with forgiveness research (forgiveness reduces rumination and stress) and post-traumatic growth; line 3 shows how status display triggers hostility.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Repairing relationships after conflict Enterprise, Judgment
• A complaint escalating into a crisis Enterprise, Line 2, yang (nine)
• A fraud investigation Enterprise, Line 6, yin (six)
• Review and accountability after a crisis Enterprise, Judgment
• Accountability and psychological safety Enterprise, Line 5, yin (six)
• Regret after losing your temper Individuals, Judgment
• Forgiving someone Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)
• Repairing a parent–child relationship Individuals, Judgment
• To forgive or not to forgive Individuals, Judgment
• The right moment to reconcile Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)
• Discretion vs. display Individuals, Line 3, yin (six)
• Short breaks and recovery Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)

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