Jing — The Village Well
Also known as: The Well
The Judgement
井卦：改邑不改井，无丧无得，往来井井。汔至亦未繘井，羸其瓶，凶。
A town may move; its well does not. It neither loses nor gains, and all who come and go draw from it. If the jar almost reaches the top but breaks before it clears the rim: inauspicious.
AI commentaryJing places Water above Wind, whose image here is wood: water over wood, a source that can be drawn on without end. The hexagram stands for nourishment, help to others and constant kindness. A town may be relocated, yet its well stays put; its worth neither grows nor shrinks, and every passer-by draws from it. If the jar comes almost to the rim and then breaks, the work fails at the final step, which is inauspicious. One who receives this hexagram is called to sustain people, keep the steady virtue of a well, and above all finish what has been begun.
AI plain readingJing places Water above Wind, read as wood, and takes the village well as its image: a supply that never runs out. It stands for nourishing others, helping those in need and offering kindness that does not dry up. The judgement notes that a town can move but its well cannot; it neither gains nor loses, and everyone who passes draws from it. Yet if the jar is almost at the rim when it breaks, the effort fails at the last moment, and that is inauspicious. If you draw this hexagram, it usually points to supporting people and being useful to many. Keep your contribution steady, and above all see things through instead of letting them collapse short of completion.
The Great Image
木上有水，井；君子以劳民劝相。
Water above wood (the trigram Wind) forms Jing. Following this, the noble person honours the people's toil and rallies them to support one another.
The Six Lines
1st Line (six)
初六：井泥不食，旧井无禽。
A well clogged with mud gives no water to drink; no bird or beast comes to an old, abandoned well.
AI commentarySilt clogs the bottom and the water is undrinkable, like a disused well even animals avoid. A yin line in the lowest place, it has sunk low in ability and character and nourishes no one. Whoever settles for this is cast aside.
AI plain readingIn this line, mud has settled in a well and its water is no longer fit to drink, so this old well lies abandoned and even animals stay away. If you let yourself slide into neglect and offer nothing useful, people will cast you aside. The remedy is honest self-examination and renewed effort.
- Timing
- Your abilities and conduct have sunk low. Take honest stock and rouse yourself; if nothing changes, people will cast you aside.
- Money
- Like a silted well, your finances have run dry; a skill or service people will pay for can restore the flow.
- Career
- Managers look past you when your work gives others little to draw on. Update your skills and clear neglected tasks now.
- Relationships
- Until you examine your own part and bring fresh warmth, a bond gone flat keeps cooling into distance.
- Home & Household
- The home has grown lifeless and family fortunes are fading. Mend what was neglected and rebuild routines from the ground up.
- Health
- The tradition reads this as reserves depleted at the root. Restore rest, regular meals and steady habits before strength drains further.
- Marriage
- A dulled partnership needs fresh input from you. Renew shared plans and daily kindnesses, or you two may drift apart.
- Exams & Study
- Your preparation still lacks substance. Return to the fundamentals and fill gaps honestly; surface review alone is unlikely to suffice.
- Travel
- Setting off with no support or clear purpose invites obstacles at every turn. Prepare thoroughly and know why you are going.
- Disputes & Legal Matters
- Gather documents and sharpen your reasoning before pressing anything, because a position this thin on evidence rarely wins a fair hearing.
- Finding a Person
- Rather than retracing cold leads, rethink your approach and open new channels or contacts; otherwise the search stalls.
- The Decision Point
- Those who settle into neglect and offer nothing useful are passed over; examine yourself, rouse your effort, and become worth drawing upon again.
2nd Line (nine)
九二：井谷射鲋，瓮敝漏。
In a well's low hollow the water seeps down to the little fish; the jar has split and lets everything run out.
AI commentaryWater escapes downward to the small fish, like a cracked jar leaking. The ability is real, but leaning towards those below, the line strays from its proper course. Talent given to the wrong people, never rising, drains away to no effect.
AI plain readingWater seeps down to the tiny fish at the bottom of a well, and the drawing jar is cracked and leaking. You have genuine ability, but keeping the wrong company and straying from what is right lets your effort trickle away. Choose carefully whom you work with and where your talent goes.
- Timing
- Your efforts keep draining through the wrong channels. Keep company with upright people and stay principled, or nothing lasting builds up.
- Money
- Money seeps out through poor partners or careless arrangements. Check who handles your funds and plug small leaks before earnings vanish.
- Career
- Your skills are being spent on people who cannot advance them. Seek principled mentors and teams so your work reaches higher.
- Relationships
- You may be giving real feeling to someone who never returns it. Choose more wisely and stop pouring care into emptiness.
- Home & Household
- Household resources sit in the wrong hands and ebb away. Choose carefully who manages family affairs, and keep everything above board.
- Health
- The tradition sees vitality leaking through a misguided regimen. Choose reputable guidance over fads; a poor routine drains rather than restores.
- Marriage
- Before committing, make sure your devotion goes to someone trustworthy; affection poured into an unsuitable match leaks away, however sincere.
- Exams & Study
- Your ability is there, but misguided methods waste it. Follow a proven study plan and a good teacher, not shortcuts.
- Travel
- The wrong guide, agent or companion could leave you stranded midway. Vet bookings and fellow travellers carefully before setting out.
- Disputes & Legal Matters
- Your case has merit, but a poor adviser could let key evidence slip. Choose trustworthy representation and keep your own records.
- Finding a Person
- Leads are being lost through unreliable intermediaries. Use dependable contacts or official channels, and record every clue so nothing else slips.
- The Decision Point
- Talent given to the wrong people leaks away; before investing effort, ask whether this partner or path stays true and carries your work upward.
3rd Line (nine)
九三：井渫不食，为我心恻，可用汲，王明，并受其福。
A well dredged clean but left unused brings grief to my heart, though its water is fit to draw. If the ruler sees clearly, high and low alike receive its blessing.
AI commentaryCleaned yet unused, this well is a cause for sorrow, though its water is ready to drink. Should a discerning ruler appear, those above and below share the benefit. One whose ability is ready but unused should wait patiently for recognition.
AI plain readingThis well has been cleaned and its water is good, yet sadly nobody draws from it. If a clear-sighted leader notices it, everyone benefits. If you draw this line, your abilities may be ready but overlooked. Keep to what is right and wait; once someone recognises your worth, the benefit can be widely shared.
- Timing
- A regrettable wait: you are ready, yet unrecognised. Hold your course; if a discerning patron takes notice, many will benefit.
- Money
- Your groundwork is sound but unrewarded so far; deal honestly and wait, since the right opening can bring shared gains.
- Career
- If your skills sit unused, keep doing visible, quality work; once an appreciative leader notices, you and the team both gain.
- Relationships
- Although your sincerity has not yet been answered, stay true without pressing. If feeling is returned, you both share the joy.
- Home & Household
- Keep the household ready rather than forcing change; when a chance like a move or new job arrives, every member benefits.
- Health
- A skilled practitioner may be what turns sound care into visible results; keep steady habits, and the tradition expects gradual recovery.
- Marriage
- Rather than pressing for a wedding date while your sincere wish to marry goes unanswered, wait with dignity; a union met halfway blesses both.
- Exams & Study
- Results still trail your solid knowledge; practice papers keep it sharp, so a fair chance can let ability earn its due.
- Travel
- Packed and ready but without the go-ahead, keep bookings refundable; a smooth trip depends on waiting for a clear window.
- Disputes & Legal Matters
- The tradition reads this as favouring a fair ruling once a clear-sighted judge hears your prepared evidence; meanwhile, stay above reproach.
- Finding a Person
- News should come in the end: your leads are sound, just unanswered so far. File them and recheck them periodically.
- The Decision Point
- When you are ready but unused, wait without lowering your standards; once a discerning person recognises your worth, the benefit reaches everyone involved.
4th Line (six)
六四：井甃，无咎。
This well's wall is relined with brick: no blame.
AI commentaryThe shaft is lined with brick and stone (甃), keeping it clean and sound. It cannot nourish anyone yet, but by repairing itself it stands ready, so there is no blame. When one cannot yet benefit others, self-cultivation comes first.
AI plain readingHere a well is being relined with brick and stone to keep it clean and solid. It cannot serve anyone during the work, but the repair makes it useful later, so there is no blame. If you draw this line, improve yourself now so you are ready when the chance to help others comes.
- Timing
- This is a time for maintenance rather than outreach. Put your own affairs in order first; doing so brings no blame.
- Money
- Profits are not flowing yet, so shore up basics: tidy accounts, rebuild savings, cut waste. Such consolidation brings no blame.
- Career
- You may not get to shine yet. Train, document processes and polish your skills, so you are ready when called upon.
- Relationships
- A union is not yet on the horizon. Work on your character and habits; steady self-improvement keeps you blameless and ready.
- Home & Household
- There is no blame in putting repairs and upkeep before major improvements; quietly strengthening the home is the right order now.
- Health
- The tradition favours rebuilding from the base: steady sleep, simple food, gentle exercise, with gradual rather than sudden improvement.
- Marriage
- It is too early to formalise the relationship. Become the partner you would want to marry; the delay carries no blame.
- Exams & Study
- Big results are not due yet. Reinforce weak topics and drill fundamentals; groundwork laid now is never wasted on exam day.
- Travel
- Before setting out, check documents, confirm bookings and refine the itinerary; no blame attaches to a pause used for preparation.
- Disputes & Legal Matters
- Building your file now carries no blame: verify every fact and secure witnesses before you argue the case.
- Finding a Person
- News has not arrived. Consolidate what you know and update contact lists, so you can act quickly when a lead appears.
- The Decision Point
- If you cannot yet serve others, repair and strengthen yourself first; being well prepared is blameless and makes you useful when the call comes.
5th Line (nine)
九五：井洌，寒泉食。
This well's water is clear and cool; people drink from its cold spring.
AI commentaryThe water is clear, the cold spring fit to drink. A firm yang line in the honoured central place, it offers pure kindness to all: the finest line in Jing. A leader whose benefits stay clean and inexhaustible fulfils a well's purpose.
AI plain readingClear, cool water rises from a well's cold spring for all to drink. Strong and balanced in the place of honour, this is the finest line of the hexagram, describing a leader whose generosity is honest and never runs dry. If you draw it, use your position to benefit others openly and generously.
- Timing
- Highly auspicious timing: your influence runs clean and generous, and the good you share renews itself like a spring.
- Money
- The reading sees honestly earned income flowing well and ample enough to share; keep dealings transparent so others benefit too.
- Career
- Colleagues and clients gather round when your work stays a reliable, clean source; leading with integrity is what keeps them coming.
- Relationships
- Care flowing honestly both ways makes this bond harmonious and refreshing, provided you keep treating your partner fairly.
- Home & Household
- Like a village well, your care reaches everyone at home; fairness over chores and shared money lets the household thrive.
- Health
- In the tradition's reading, vitality runs clear and self-renewing, favouring good health; plain food, fresh water and regular rest sustain it.
- Marriage
- When you and your partner draw on each other's sincere support, the union comes together beautifully; small daily generosity seals it.
- Exams & Study
- Revise properly rather than cram: with understanding this clear and preparation that never runs dry, the reading favours exam success.
- Travel
- Courtesy towards hosts, drivers and fellow travellers comes back to you as help along the way, so trips run smoothly.
- Disputes & Legal Matters
- Let plain, verifiable facts carry your case; a position this clean is one the tradition reads as favouring a just resolution.
- Finding a Person
- Because goodwill you showed others is returning, help comes from many sides once you ask; the reading favours finding the person.
- The Decision Point
- From a position of influence, give cleanly and without running dry; benefiting many people honestly is the highest use of your standing.
6th Line (six)
上六：井收勿幕，有孚元吉。
Water is drawn up and the opening is left uncovered for all; with sincerity, supremely auspicious.
AI commentaryIts work is done: water is drawn and the mouth is left uncovered (勿幕), so all draw endlessly. Such sincere, wide-reaching generosity is supremely auspicious. A well's virtue is complete when it gives freely and keeps nothing back.
AI plain readingHere the work is complete: water is drawn up and the opening is left uncovered so anyone can take what they need. Because the giving is sincere and generous, this is supremely auspicious. If you draw this line, your efforts have matured. Share what you have openly, and the good keeps spreading.
- Timing
- Your efforts have come to fruition. Share openly and sincerely without guarding your gains; this is a supremely auspicious time.
- Money
- The reading sees abundant resources and supremely favourable, lasting gains, provided you spend sincerely and let worthy causes share in them.
- Career
- Your work sustains many people. If you share knowledge and credit sincerely, the reading is supremely favourable and support keeps growing.
- Relationships
- Offered sincerely and without keeping score, your attention and trust make this a supremely auspicious bond, warm and deeply rewarding.
- Home & Household
- With the family secure, welcome relatives and neighbours sincerely and share freely; a home that keeps nothing back is supremely auspicious.
- Health
- Vitality replenished and flowing: the tradition reads this as supremely auspicious for wellbeing, as long as your healthy routines never lapse.
- Marriage
- Sincere commitment from both of you is supremely favoured, pointing to a union that lasts into old age.
- Exams & Study
- Helping classmates with what you know deepens your own mastery; with that sincerity, the reading is supremely favourable for outstanding results.
- Travel
- Travel in good faith and befriend those you meet; this journey is supremely favoured, with help appearing wherever you go.
- Disputes & Legal Matters
- Your good faith towards every party carries weight now; the tradition reads this as supremely favourable to a fair, negotiated settlement.
- Finding a Person
- Appeals you send out sincerely through many channels, with every clue shared freely, make the search supremely favourable.
- The Decision Point
- Once your work is complete, leave the cover off: give openly, keep nothing back for yourself, and sincerity makes the outcome supremely auspicious.