Hexagram 38 of the I Ching: Kui, Opposition (睽), meaning and lines
Kui, Opposition: Fire over Lake. Two forces that part ways like two gazes turned in opposite directions, and yet can still complement each other.
Key points
| Number | 38 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Kui (睽) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “kway” |
| Lower trigram | ☱ Dui, the Lake |
| Upper trigram | ☲ Li, Fire |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yang, yang, yin, yang, yin, yang |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 39, Jian (obstruction), Obstruction |
| Other names | Divergence, Antagonism, Estrangement |
Hexagram 38 at a glance
Kui (睽) is the 38th hexagram of the I Ching. The character evokes eyes that turn away, gazes that diverge. It is translated as “Opposition”, “Divergence” or “Estrangement”.
The figure follows hexagram 37, The Family: after the united household, divergences appear. It is a situation of disagreement, not of rupture.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, also called the inner trigram, is Dui (the Lake); the upper trigram, also called the outer trigram, is Li (Fire). The bottom represents the base of the situation, the top its context or outcome. Fire rises, the Lake sinks: two movements that move apart. The image commentary draws a lesson from this: the noble person knows how to seek difference within resemblance, that is, to agree while keeping their individuality.
Diagram of the six lines, from first to sixth: yang, yang, yin, yang, yin, yang. In the King Wen sequence, this hexagram forms a pair with No. 37, Jia Ren, The Family; its opposite (all lines reversed) is No. 39, Jian (obstruction), Obstruction, and its reverse (read from top to bottom) is No. 37, Jia Ren, The Family. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 63, Ji Ji, After Completion.
The judgement, in brief
The judgement is modest: for small matters, the course is favourable. Great projects do not find the common ground they need.
The commentaries add that, despite their opposition, heaven and earth, man and woman, accomplish together one and the same work.
General meaning
Kui describes a time of divergences: disagreements, gazes that do not meet, projects pulling in opposite directions. The text does not see a catastrophe in this but a condition of shared life: differences are the salt of the world.
The lines suggest a method: do not chase after what drifts away, welcome rough interlocutors without judging them, look for a sincere ally, then wait for the tension to subside with the rain.
The six lines, one by one
Lines counted from bottom to top. These very short paraphrases do not replace reading a full translation.
| Line | Image and idea |
|---|---|
| 1 (yang) | Regrets fade: a horse is lost, there is no need to chase it, it returns on its own; one may even meet an adversary without fault. |
| 2 (yang) | Meeting one's lord in a narrow lane: an informal contact, without fault. |
| 3 (yin) | Seeing a cart dragged backward and its ox held back: obstacles and humiliations at first, a good outcome in the end. |
| 4 (yang) | Isolated by opposition, one finds a man of good faith: danger, but no fault. |
| 5 (yin) | Regrets fade: a relative bites the tender flesh; advancing deserves no reproach. |
| 6 (yang) | Isolated by opposition, one sees a muddy pig and a cart of ghosts; the bow drawn then lowered: this is not a bandit but a suitor; the rain brings good fortune. |
Moving lines and the resulting hexagram
A moving line (a total of 6 or 9 when the three coins are tossed) changes into its opposite and gives a second hexagram, the resulting hexagram, which describes the direction the situation is taking. Here, lines 1, 2, 4 and 6 are yang and lines 3 and 5 are yin. The solid lines 1, 2, 4 and 6 frame the broken lines 3 and 5. Line 5, yin and central, is the one that welcomes in the middle of the opposition; a change at this position sheds light on the possibility of agreement.
| If the moving line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yang becomes yin) | No. 64, Wei Ji, Before Completion |
| 2 (yang becomes yin) | No. 21, Shi He, Biting Through |
| 3 (yin becomes yang) | No. 14, Da You, Possession in Great Measure |
| 4 (yang becomes yin) | No. 41, Sun, Decrease |
| 5 (yin becomes yang) | No. 10, Lü, Treading |
| 6 (yang becomes yin) | No. 54, Gui Mei, The Marrying Maiden |
Six moving lines give the opposite, No. 39, Jian (obstruction), Obstruction. With several moving lines, the schools disagree about which line to prioritise.
A modern reading, with caution
Kui can accompany disagreements in the family, at work, within a group. It invites us to distinguish what truly separates from what stems from perception, and not to settle major issues when tension is at its peak.
- At work: move forward on small points of agreement, and postpone heavy decisions.
- In relationships: accept a difference without fighting it; listen before replying.
- For yourself: recognise your own inner contradictions.
A reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and of oracle, a tool for reflection and not a prediction; it does not replace medical, financial, legal or safety advice.
Questions for reflection
- Where do I truly disagree, and where is it a misunderstanding?
- What does the other person perceive that I do not see?
- Is this “muddy pig” a threat or an appearance?
- What small agreement could get the conversation going again?
Mistakes to avoid
- Forcing a reconciliation when minds are heated.
- Chasing after what drifts away, like the horse of line 1.
- Taking the strange images of line 6 for an oracle: they are metaphors of suspicion.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 38 of the I Ching mean?
Kui, Opposition, describes forces that diverge and invites us to move forward on small points of agreement.
Which trigrams make up Kui?
The Lake (Dui) below and Fire (Li) above.
Does Kui announce a rupture?
No: the I Ching does not predict. It describes a situation of divergence and proposes attitudes for getting through it.
Which hexagram is associated with Kui?
No. 37, Jia Ren, The Family.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.