Hexagram 25 · 天雷无妄

Innocence

Metal · Xun palace

Acting without ulterior motive; simplicity as method.

Meaning

Thunder beneath heaven: natural movement without contrivance. Innocence concerns acting from a straightforward motive rather than a calculated one.

Decision Framework

Act plainly; do not scheme.

Decision Guidance

Innocence recommends acting from a clean, direct motive. It appears when the calculated approach has become part of the problem, and the simpler course is also the more effective one.

The hexagram has an unusual warning attached: even correct conduct does not guarantee protection from misfortune. Its point is that you should still proceed openly, because the alternative — managing appearances, hedging, manipulating — tends to produce worse and more complicated outcomes. Do what is right and let the result be what it is.

Judgment — Classical Text

元亨利贞。其匪正有眚，不利有攸往。

EN Sublime success, perseverance furthers. If one is not correct there is calamity; it is not favourable to set out.

The Six Lines — Classical Text

初九：无妄，往吉。
EN Initial nine: acting without expectation — going brings good fortune.
六二：不耕获，不菑畬，则利有攸往。
EN Six in the second: not counting on the harvest while ploughing — then it is favourable to set out.
六三：无妄之灾。
EN Six in the third: calamity from without — the innocent one's misfortune.
九四：可贞，无咎。
EN Nine in the fourth: you may hold fast — no blame.
九五：无妄之疾，勿药有喜。
EN Nine in the fifth: an innocent illness — no medicine, and there is joy.
上九：无妄行，有眚，无攸利。
EN Topmost nine: acting without cause — calamity, nothing furthers.

Keywords

I Ching hexagram 25, Innocence hexagram, Wu Wang hexagram meaning, hexagram for integrity