I Ching hexagram · 54 of 64
Hexagram 54: The Marrying Maiden 归妹 Guī Mèi · Secondary role, desire, caution
Act within your role and avoid forcing outcomes. Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.
- Upper: ☳ Thunder
- Lower: ☱ Lake
- Nuclear: 63
- Opposite: 53
Number
54 of 64
Chinese name
归妹 Guī Mèi
Upper trigram
☳ Thunder
Lower trigram
☱ Lake
Nuclear hexagram
䷾ 63. After Completion
Opposite hexagram
䷴ 53. Gradual Development
What hexagram 54 means
Hexagram 54 shows thunder over the lake, stirring up its waters, like a young woman joining a household as a secondary wife. It describes relationships based on impulse, and situations in which you have little power.
When your position is weak, or a relationship is built on passing desire, don't push for advancement. Act with tact, accept your role for now and keep sight of what lasts.
The Judgement · 卦辞
归妹：征凶，无攸利。
Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.
The Image · 象曰
泽上有雷，归妹；君子以永终知敝。
Thunder over the lake: the image of the marrying maiden. The noble person keeps the lasting end in view and recognises what is transitory.
The lines and trigrams
The Marrying Maiden places ☳ Thunder (震 Zhèn), the trigram of movement and arousal, above ☱ Lake (兑 Duì), the trigram of joy and openness. The lower trigram describes the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 54 in your life
Love and relationships
Be careful of relationships based on infatuation or an unequal footing. Clarify expectations and look past the excitement to what will last.
Personal growth
Learn to see the end in the beginning. Ask what will remain once the excitement fades.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 54 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初九 · Nine at the beginning
The maiden marries as a secondary wife. A lame person who can still walk: going on brings good fortune.
Line 2 九二 · Nine in the second place
A one-eyed person who can still see. The loyalty of a quiet, solitary person brings benefit.
Line 3 六三 · Six in the third place
The maiden waits as a servant, then marries as a secondary wife. Accepting less than your worth.
Line 4 九四 · Nine in the fourth place
The maiden delays her marriage. A late marriage comes in due course.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
The sovereign gives his daughter in marriage, and her robes are plainer than the bridesmaid's. Modesty brings good fortune.
Line 6 上六 · Six at the top
The woman holds an empty basket; the man stabs the sheep but no blood flows. Empty forms: nothing furthers.
Hexagram 54 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 54 mean?
Hexagram 54, The Marrying Maiden (归妹 Guī Mèi), is about secondary role, desire, caution. Act within your role and avoid forcing outcomes. Hexagram 54 shows thunder over the lake, stirring up its waters, like a young woman joining a household as a secondary wife. It describes relationships based on impulse, and situations in which you have little power.
What does hexagram 54 mean in love?
Be careful of relationships based on infatuation or an unequal footing. Clarify expectations and look past the excitement to what will last.
What does hexagram 54 mean for work and money?
A junior or uncertain position. Avoid overstepping, work quietly and don't make big moves until you have more standing.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 54?
Hexagram 54 has Thunder (Zhèn) as its upper trigram and Lake (Duì) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 54?
Its nuclear hexagram is 63, After Completion. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 53, Gradual Development. Turned upside down it becomes 53, Gradual Development.
All 64 hexagrams
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