I-Ching Hexagram 54
歸妹 The Marrying Maiden
Also known as Subordination
An inherently unbalanced arrangement — a junior entering a position that cannot give her full standing. The figure counsels realism about such situations: do not undertake new ventures from here, work within the limits, and hold the long view of what is transitory.
subordinate position · marrying maiden · junior role
The Story
A younger sister was married into a household as a junior wife. The arrangement was imperfect; she could not lead, could not refuse, could not easily leave. She did not pretend otherwise. She worked well within her limits, kept her dignity, did not scheme against the first wife, and raised her son to be courteous. In old age she was not the matriarch — but she was the one everyone sought for advice, and her son outlived every intrigue. "When the role is smaller than you, shrink gracefully to it," she said. "Bitterness is the only cage from which no one can release you."
The Judgment
Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.
The Image
Thunder over the lake: the image of the marrying maiden. Thus the superior person understands the transitory in the light of the eternity of the end.
Interpretation
An inherently unbalanced arrangement — a junior entering a position that cannot give her full standing. The figure counsels realism about such situations: do not undertake new ventures from here, work within the limits, and hold the long view of what is transitory.
Trigrams
The Six Lines
- First (Bottom) The marrying maiden as a concubine. A lame man who is able to tread. Undertakings bring good fortune. Accept the secondary role; good results still possible.
- Second A one-eyed man who is able to see. The perseverance of a solitary person furthers. Partial vision in isolation; persist in private truth.
- Third The marrying maiden as a slave. She marries as a concubine. Lowered circumstance through overreaching; accept, wait, hope to be properly placed.
- Fourth The marrying maiden draws out the allotted time. A late marriage comes in due course. Waiting past the usual time for the right arrangement.
- Fifth The sovereign I gave his daughter in marriage. The embroidered garments of the princess were not as gorgeous as those of the servingmaid. The moon that is nearly full brings good fortune. Humility even in high position; understated dignity.
- Sixth (Top) The woman holds the basket, but there are no fruits in it. The man stabs the sheep, but no blood flows. Nothing that would further. An empty ceremony; going through the motions without substance.