繁中
Hexagram 48
䷯
The Well · 井
☵水 above / ☴風 below
Ancient Core
【Judgment】
Jǐng: The town may change, but the well does not. It neither loses nor gains; people come and go and draw from it. Almost reaching the water, the rope not yet down the well, the jar breaks: misfortune.
【Image】Water above wood: the image of Jing. The noble person, following it, encourages the people in their work and urges them to help one another.
Overview
【Brief Meaning】

The Well. Accessing the inexhaustible source of wisdom. Providing nourishment to the community through a deep and stable foundation.

SourceProvisionConstancyMaintenance
Modern Analogy
【Modern Insight】
Like a noodle shop that has been open for thirty years: no fancy decor, but there's a line every morning because that pot of broth has never let anyone down.
Practical Application
【Practical Case】
The current focus should be on deepening your expertise. Do not frequently change your core business; remain steadfast like a well. This is a time for technical research and development, brand maintenance, staff training, or infrastructure building. Be generous in sharing your resources with others (like a well providing for all). However, pay close attention to details and do not let your guard down at the finish line. Your value lies in your depth.
✍ Author's Commentary
Below is my personal interpretation and observation of this hexagram.
Jing speaks of the constant and unchanging supply. A good well never discriminates about who comes to draw from it. This hexagram reminds us: true strength is built on the foundation of being needed. This is a period for cultivating professional depth and a service mindset. First repair the well — only then will the water be clear. Do not scatter your efforts; be focused.
【Mirror of History】Norman Borlaug · Case Study & Reflection

Historical Tale

Agronomist Norman Borlaug developed high-yield crop varieties, sparking the Green Revolution that saved over one billion people from starvation worldwide.

Philosophical Reflection

Nurture your inner well of skill and character to serve others ceaselessly.

【Changing Lines】Line Texts & Philosophical Interpretation
Six at the Beginning
A muddy well: no one drinks from it. At an old well, not even the birds come.
[Talent Left Idle] Talents left unused rot like a muddy ancient well—unvisited and undrinkable. Only continuous output keeps life as clear as spring water.
Muddy well water cannot be drunk; an abandoned old well attracts no birds. This is the start of Jing—it speaks of unmaintained resources left to decay. An abandoned well sees no birds. Do you have a resource that has decayed simply from lack of maintenance?
Nine in the Second
At the bottom of the well, shooting at little fish; the jar is cracked and leaks.
[Talent Spills From a Broken Vessel] Ample potential wasted due to poor self-management and leaks. Repairing your life vessel is more important than frantically drawing water; let talent flow toward worthy goals.
Shooting fish in a well; the earthenware jug is broken and leaks. This line speaks of wasted resources—shooting fish instead of drawing water, and using a leaky jug, shows good resources mismanaged through broken methods. Are your resources leaking away through poor usage?
Nine in the Third
The well has been cleaned, yet no one drinks from it; this pains my heart. Its water could be drawn. If the king were wise, all would share in the blessing.
[Clear Spring Awaiting the Draw] Virtue is cultivated to clarity, yet opportunity hasn't arrived. Hold to high standards while unnoticed; when an enlightened leader appears, blessings are shared.
The well is cleaned yet no one drinks—a sorrow in my heart, for it is ready to draw. If the king is wise, all share in the blessing. This line speaks of wasted quality—a clean well ignored shows the pain of overlooked talent. Wisdom allows great resources to be properly used.
Six in the Fourth
The well is being lined with bricks: no fault.
[Repair the Foundation] Pause expansion to repair structural flaws. Though producing no immediate output, it lays the foundation for long-term stability—protecting the container protects the source.
Lining the well wall brings no blame. This line speaks of maintaining resources—repairing the well wall keeps it usable long-term. Maintenance itself is the right move. Is your 'well' being properly maintained?
Nine in the Fifth
The well is clear; its cold spring water is good to drink.
[Virtue Nourishes All] Virtue cultivated to cool, sweet perfection selflessly nourishes the public. Personal and social value unite, making life a gift to the world.
A clear well with cool spring water, ready to drink. This is Jing at its best—clean, cold, and drinkable. It describes a resource in its complete form: clean, abundant, and ready to nourish. Has your well reached this state?
Six at the Top
The well is open to all and left uncovered; with sincerity, sublime good fortune.
[Open Source Sharing] Upon achievement, erect no barriers; share wisdom and results fully for all to draw from. Broad unselfishness earns enduring supreme good fortune.
Drawing water without covering the well—sincere and bringing supreme good fortune. The end of Jing speaks of open wisdom: sharing well resources with everyone without hiding or hoarding. Resources exist to flow and benefit others. Are your resources open to benefit others?

In-Depth Guidance for Hexagram 48 – The Well

◈ 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
Jing is a well that never runs dry, and in love it is the kind of depth that never runs out, yet needs constant care. Evaluate whether your current relationship genuinely nourishes you or drains you.

Be the person who provides true nourishment—authentic listening, true presence, and genuine care. The most precious element in love isn't fleeting passion, but a deep connection you can return to again and again for replenishment.

💼 Career & Leadership
Jing is a source of water that can be drawn from again and again, and at work it points to building core expertise, a lasting culture, and long-term competitive strength. Identify your core competence—the value you can consistently deliver regardless of environment—and keep deepening it.

Don't just chase trends; deep roots produce living water. In a fast-changing world, those with a 'deep well' never fear drought because their core value endures.

💰 Money & Risk
The well is a steady source of water, and in money terms it corresponds to a steady source of income. The judgment says the town may change, but the well does not: towns move, wells stay.

This hexagram encourages you to cultivate what can produce income over the long term, such as professional skills and lasting working relationships. The third line, a well cleaned yet unused, is the pity of abilities that go unused.

Rather than chasing new opportunities, think about how to make your existing well visible.

🏠 Family & Home Life
Jing pictures the home as a well: a steady source of nourishment from which every member can draw what they need. Assess whether your home genuinely nourishes its members—does everyone feel recharged or drained at home? Make your home a place everyone longs to return to.

A great family is one where members repeatedly gather strength rather than a place to escape from.

🌿 Rhythm & Rest

A well must be cleared of silt regularly to stay clean, and so must body and mind. The first line says no one drinks from a muddy well. This is a good time for a routine health check-up and for clearing out accumulated fatigue: plan a holiday, or at least one full weekend with no work.

✨ The Overall Situation
Right now, the most important task is finding or building your 'well'—that lasting, deep core capable of nourishing you. Regardless of external changes, having a good well ensures you won't go thirsty.

Find your true core—core capabilities, core relationships, core health habits—and cultivate it with care. Jing's good fortune comes not from peak moments, but from an ever-clear deep well nourishing you year after year.

Related hexagrams

This is hexagram 48 of 64, number 18 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

Guard the core and give without reservation. Create value through constancy. When your life becomes a source for others, you will never run dry.