Hexagram 25 · ䷘

Innocence

无妄 · Wú Wàng

Upper Heaven 乾Lower Thunder 震

The Judgment · 卦辭

元亨。利貞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。

Wû Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.

The Image · 大象

天下雷行，物與无妄；先王以茂對時，育萬物。

The thunder rolls all under the sky, and to (every)thing there is given (its nature), free from all insincerity. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, (made their regulations) in complete accordance with the seasons, thereby nourishing all things.

Plain-English Meaning

Innocence. Act from sincerity and without hidden motives; the unexpected follows hidden agendas.

The Judgment

Innocence succeeds through honesty; acting against what is right brings trouble.

The Image

Like thunder rolling under heaven, act in harmony with the season and nourish all things.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初九 · Line 1
无妄，往吉。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject free from all insincerity. His advance will be accompanied with good fortune.
象曰：无妄之往，得志也。
六二 · Line 2
不耕穫，不菑畬，則利有攸往。
The second SIX, divided, shows one who reaps without having ploughed (that he might reap), and gathers the produce of his third year's fields without having cultivated them the first year for that end. To such a one there will be advantage in whatever direction he may move.
象曰：不耕穫，未富也。
六三 · Line 3
无妄之災，或繫之牛，行人之得，邑人之災。
The third SIX, divided, shows calamity happening to one who is free from insincerity;--as in the case of an ox that has been tied up. A passer by finds it (and carries it off), while the people in the neighbourhood have the calamity (of being accused and. apprehended).
象曰：行人得牛，邑人災也。
九四 · Line 4
可貞，无咎。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows (a case) in which, if its subject can remain firm and correct, there will be no error.
象曰：可貞无咎，固有之也。
九五 · Line 5
无妄之疾，勿藥有喜。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows one who is free from insincerity, and yet has fallen ill. Let him not use medicine, and he will have occasion for joy (in his recovery).
象曰：无妄之藥，不可試也。
上九 · Line 6
无妄，行有眚，无攸利。
The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject free from insincerity, yet sure to fall into error, if he take action. (His action) will not be advantageous in any way.
象曰：无妄之行，窮之災也。

English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.

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