繁中
Hexagram 40
䷧
Deliverance · 解
☳雷 above / ☵水 below
Ancient Core
【Judgment】
Xiè: It is favorable to go southwest. If there is nowhere to go, returning brings good fortune. If there is somewhere to go, going early brings good fortune.
【Image】Thunder and rain arrive: the image of Xie. The noble person, following it, pardons mistakes and forgives wrongdoing.
Overview
【Brief Meaning】

Deliverance. The release of tension like a spring storm. Resolving conflicts, forgiving the past, and moving forward with renewed freedom.

ReleaseForgivenessActionStarting over
Modern Analogy
【Modern Insight】
Like the night you finally hand in a project that dragged on for months: everything suddenly lets go, and what you need most is a good night's sleep.
Practical Application
【Practical Case】
The current crisis has passed. If there is something you wish to do, act immediately (auspicious). If there is nothing pressing, return to your starting point and rest well. This is a time for legal settlements, debt forgiveness, clearing up misunderstandings, or large-scale decluttering. Be generous with others and do not dwell on past right or wrong. Cut through the confusion swiftly and embrace a new life.
✍ Author's Commentary
Below is my personal interpretation and observation of this hexagram.
Jie speaks of loosening and release. After thunder and rain, heaven and earth are clear and fresh. This hexagram reminds us: when difficulty is resolved, the first task is to clear out the old and bring in the new. Do not carry the shadow of the past forward. This is a period for cultivating magnanimity and decisiveness. Shed the burden and travel light.
【Mirror of History】Abraham Lincoln · Case Study & Reflection

Historical Tale

As the American Civil War neared its end, Abraham Lincoln urged 'malice toward none, charity for all,' working to heal national wounds rather than seek vengeance.

Philosophical Reflection

Once crisis passes, let go of resentment and grant release to move forward.

【Changing Lines】Line Texts & Philosophical Interpretation
Six at the Beginning
No fault.
[Rest and Recovery] With difficulties resolved, remaining calm and returning to deep rest brings no blame. Not rushing into action but letting mind and body recover fully is the true beginning of wisdom.
Without blame. The first line of Xie has only these words, meaning that in the initial stage of release, doing nothing is correct. Once difficulties are removed, do not rush to do anything; let things settle naturally, and there is no blame. Sometimes after liberation, the best choice is inaction, letting things settle.
Nine in the Second
In the field one catches three foxes and gains a yellow arrow. Holding steady brings good fortune.
[Clearing Hidden Obstacles] Capturing three cunning foxes in the hunt and obtaining a yellow arrow of uprightness; keeping correct brings good fortune. After liberation, hidden threats must be cleared to preserve true safety.
Hunting and getting three foxes, obtaining a yellow arrow; keeping correct brings good fortune. This line speaks of cleanup work after resolving difficulties—three foxes refer to hidden negative people or obstacles. After resolving major issues, you must clear remaining hidden resistance. The yellow arrow is a symbol of uprightness.
Six in the Third
Carrying a load on one's back while riding in a carriage invites robbers. Holding on brings regret.
[Know Your Limits] Carrying a burden while riding in a carriage attracts robbers, leading to humiliation even if one keeps correct. Do not lose your head after relief; self-inflation out of step with reality is the source of crisis.
Carrying a burden yet riding in a carriage draws robbers; keeping correct still brings regret. This line speaks of a mismatch in Xie—carrying a heavy load (status of an petty person) yet sitting in a carriage (position of a noble person) draws trouble. Do you feel your position mismatches your actual state?
Nine in the Fourth
Free yourself from your big toe; then friends will come and trust will follow.
[Severing Dragging Ties] Deliver yourself from dragging negative ties, and true companions will arrive with trust. The key to releasing constraints lies in decisive relinquishment, opening the door for deep friendships.
Deliver yourself from your big toe, then companions arrive with trust. This line speaks of the key to release—getting rid of the fundamental drag (the big toe representing negative attachments), so true companions can come and trust can be built. Do you have a fundamental obstacle you need to remove now?
Six in the Fifth
Only the noble person can bring release: good fortune. It earns the trust even of petty people.
[The Leader's Release] The noble person can truly deliver himself from predicaments, bringing good fortune; with a broad mind, he inspires trust in petty people. Great personality is the most thorough resolution.
If the noble person can deliver himself, good fortune; showing sincerity to petty people. This line speaks of the way the noble person solves problems—not by destruction, but by release; not by hostility, but by facing everyone with sincerity. Even when dealing with those who caused your difficulties, sincerity is still correct.
Six at the Top
A duke shoots a hawk perched on a high wall and brings it down. Nothing is unfavorable.
[Precise Elimination] The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall, hitting it, with everything favorable. In the final chapter of deliverance, precisely eliminate the last stubborn threat to complete your transformation.
The prince shoots a hawk on a high wall, hitting it, with everything favorable. The end of Xie speaks of the final action of release—precisely shooting down the obstacle at the highest point to achieve final liberation, with everything favorable. What is the obstacle currently perched at the highest point of your life?

In-Depth Guidance for Hexagram 40 – Deliverance

◈ The following interpretations draw on I Ching cultural wisdom and classical philosophy — for cultural study and personal reflection only, not medical, legal, or financial advice ◈
💑 Love & Relationships
Xie is thunder and rain breaking a stifling spell, and in love it is the moment when a deadlock loosens and pressure lifts. If the relationship was difficult before, now is the time for things to ease. If you have been waiting for the relationship crisis to resolve, now you can actively take action.

Do not hesitate because of past hardships; the timing of Xie is fleeting, so move forward when the window opens. Xie also reminds us: after difficulties are removed, do not return to old patterns immediately.

Let the changes and understanding brought by this hardship become the new foundation for the relationship.

💼 Career & Leadership
Xie is about release from difficulty, and at work it marks a period when a crisis has passed, a bottleneck has opened, and work is running again. Plans that could not be pushed forward before can now be restarted, as the predicament begins to yield. Re-evaluate plans you paused during difficult times to see which are worth resuming.

Take advantage of the obstacle removal to advance the most important tasks quickly; do not let the window of opportunity close in vain. Xie also reminds us: once things ease, use this opportunity to truly solve the root causes of the problems rather than just getting temporary relief, otherwise problems will accumulate again.

💰 Money & Risk
Xie is the moment just after a difficulty is resolved. The judgment says that if there is nowhere to go, returning brings good fortune, and if there is somewhere to go, going early brings good fortune: when things are fine, go back to normal; when something needs doing, do it early.

Once financial pressure eases, it is easy to relax your guard or want to reward yourself. The third line says carrying a load while riding in a carriage invites robbers. With the difficulty just behind you, patch the holes first and don't rush to spend.

🏠 Family & Home Life
With Xie, long-standing tensions at home begin to ease, bringing a chance for reconciliation and a fresh start. When the family atmosphere begins to ease, take active steps toward reconciliation rather than waiting for the other person to move first.

After relieving surface tension, take time to understand the root causes so that this resolution is a true solution rather than just superficial peace. Xie teaches us: family reconciliation has its timing; seize it when this window opens.

🌿 Rhythm & Rest
Xie is the fresh air after a thunderstorm. When long pressure lifts, the body often suddenly feels exhausted or even falls ill for a while; this is a common reaction. Give yourself real rest rather than jumping straight into the next thing.

The image speaks of pardoning mistakes; be forgiving toward your own past lapses too.

✨ The Overall Situation
Obstacles are being removed, and the path is opening. This is a time for action, not for continued waiting. After spring thunder, the earth thaws, and all things begin to stir—Xie teaches us that action at this moment is more efficient than at any other time.

Seize this window to advance key matters that have been waiting. Meanwhile, use this easing period to address the root causes of problems, ensuring the good situation is truly lasting, not just a brief respite.

Related hexagrams

This is hexagram 40 of 64, number 10 of the 34 hexagrams in the Lower Canon. See The Upper and Lower Canon for why the sequence is split this way.

Keep reading
Overall Life Guidance

Act decisively and treat others generously. Quickly rebuild order once the crisis passes. When you release the hatred and fear in your heart, you will truly possess the world.