LXIII. (The trigram representing) fire and that for water above it form Ki Ji. The superior man, in accordance with this, thinks of evil (that may come), and beforehand guards against it.

1 'He drags back his wheel:' as we may rightly judge, there will be no mistake.

2 'In seven days he will find it:' for the course pursued is that indicated by the central position (of the line).

3 'He was three years in subduing it:' enough to make him weary.

4 'He is on his guard all the day:' he is in doubt about something.

5 'The slaughtering of an ox by the neighbour in the east is not equal to (the small offering of) the neighbour in the west:' because the time (in the latter case is more important and fit). 'His sincerity receives the blessing:' good fortune comes on a great scale.

6 'His head is immersed; the position is perilous:' how could such a state continue long?