Hexagram 40 of the I Ching: Xie, Deliverance (解), meaning and lines
Xie, Deliverance: Thunder above Water, like the storm that clears the air. An image of resolution after tension, of forgiveness and of a return to simplicity.
Key points
| Number | 40 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Xie (解) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “shyeh” |
| Lower trigram | ☵ Kan, Water |
| Upper trigram | ☳ Zhen, Thunder |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yin, yang, yin, yang, yin, yin |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 37, Jia Ren, The Family |
| Other names | Resolution, Release, Dissolution |
Hexagram 40 at a glance
Xie (解) is the 40th hexagram of the I Ching. The character means “to untie, unravel, dissolve, explain”. It is translated as “Deliverance”, “Resolution” or “Release”.
It follows Obstruction (No. 39): after the blockage comes the unblocking. The tension eases as it does after a storm.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, called the lower or inner one, is Kan (Water); the upper trigram, called the upper or outer one, is Zhen (Thunder). The bottom represents the base of the situation, the top its context or outcome. Thunder and rain are released: the storm breaks and the air clears. The image commentary draws a rule from this: the noble person pardons faults and grants clemency for wrongs.
Line diagram, from the first to the sixth: yin, yang, yin, yang, yin, yin. In the King Wen sequence, this hexagram forms a pair with No. 39, Jian, Obstruction. Its opposite (all lines inverted) is No. 37, Jia Ren, The Family, and its reverse (read from top to bottom) is No. 39, Jian, Obstruction. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 63, Ji Ji, After Completion.
The judgment, in brief
The judgment says it is favorable to head southwest, that is, toward the plain and simplicity. If there is no longer any goal, it is better to return; if there is one, it is best to get to it early.
In other words, you make use of the relief to return to the ordinary or to act without delay, but not to dawdle.
General meaning
Xie speaks of coming out of an entanglement: a conflict that calms down, a pressure that subsides, a problem whose knot gives way. The text advises not to prolong the crisis unnecessarily, neither through grudges nor through endless analysis.
It pairs this release with a caution: after deliverance, carelessness can bring new troubles. Extending grace to others also requires sincerity toward those who are most humble.
The six lines, one by one
Lines are counted from bottom to top. These very short paraphrases do not replace reading a full translation.
| Line | Image and idea |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin) | No fault: the release begins gently. |
| 2 (yang) | Hunting three foxes in the fields and bringing back a golden arrow: you eliminate what gnaws away with uprightness; good fortune. |
| 3 (yin) | Carrying a burden while riding in a carriage: you attract thieves; showing off invites trouble. |
| 4 (yang) | Freeing your big toe: friends arrive and trust is established. |
| 5 (yin) | The noble person is released: good fortune, and they show their sincerity to ordinary people. |
| 6 (yin) | The duke shoots a hawk perched on a high wall: he brings it down, and all goes well (the cause of harm is removed). |
Moving lines and the resulting hexagram
A moving line (a total of 6 or 9 when the three coins are cast) changes into its opposite and gives a second hexagram, the resulting hexagram, which describes the direction the situation is taking. Here, lines 2 and 4 are yang, and lines 1, 3, 5 and 6 are yin. The yang lines are 2 and 4: line 2 settles the details, line 4 frees the movement.
| If the moving line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin becomes yang) | No. 54, Gui Mei, The Marrying Maiden |
| 2 (yang becomes yin) | No. 16, Yu, Enthusiasm |
| 3 (yin becomes yang) | No. 32, Heng, Duration |
| 4 (yang becomes yin) | No. 7, Shi, The Army |
| 5 (yin becomes yang) | No. 47, Kun (exhaustion), Oppression |
| 6 (yin becomes yang) | No. 64, Wei Ji, Before Completion |
Six moving lines give the opposite, No. 37, Jia Ren, The Family. With several moving lines, schools of interpretation disagree on which one to give priority.
A modern reading, with caution
Xie accompanies relief: a dispute that gets settled, a grudge that fades, a period of tension that comes to an end. It calls for forgiving without giving up your principles, and for using the moment to clarify things.
- At work: close a file, clear up what has been left unsaid, start again on a clean basis.
- In relationships: offer or ask for a sincere apology, without demanding that the past be forgotten.
- For yourself: release a tension and reward yourself for having held on.
Reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and oracle, a tool for reflection and not a prediction; it does not replace medical, financial, legal or safety advice.
Questions to reflect on
- Which knot is coming undone, and how can I help it loosen gently?
- Which grudge can I let go of without betraying myself?
- Which “hawk on the wall” must I bring down so that this truly stops?
- How can I avoid falling back into the same trap?
Mistakes to avoid
- Confusing release with letting things slide.
- Showing off your relief, like the overloaded carriage of line 3.
- Keeping alive a quarrel that has already been resolved.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 40 of the I Ching mean?
Xie, Deliverance, evokes the resolution of a tension, with forgiveness and a return to simplicity.
Which trigrams make up Xie?
Water (Kan) below and Thunder (Zhen) above.
What is the link with hexagram 39?
The two form a pair: Obstruction first, then Deliverance.
What does the hawk on the wall mean?
An image of the hidden cause of a problem, which is dealt with at the highest level; commentators see in it the clear decision that closes the matter.
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.