The Well

井泥不食，舊井无禽。

A muddy well is not used for drinking. No birds come to an old well.

Mud leaves the well unused in Line 1; even birds no longer visit it. Changing the base makes Heaven below Water, Hexagram 5. Waiting offers a comparison with the well’s present disuse.

井谷射鮒，甕敝漏。

Water escapes through the well's hollow toward small fish. The earthen jar is worn and leaking.

Water fails to reach its intended users, while the jar cannot hold what is drawn. Changing Line 2 makes Mountain below Water, Hexagram 39. The two figures offer different images of obstructed access.

井渫不食，為我心惻。可用汲，王明，並受其福。

The well is cleared but no one drinks, bringing sorrow to my heart. Its water can be drawn. If the king is discerning, all share its blessing.

The well is usable at Line 3, but its water is not being taken. The conditional appeal to a discerning king concerns making that benefit available. Changing the line gives Water above Water, Hexagram 29, contrasting the well’s available benefit with repeated danger.

井甃，无咎。

The well is lined with masonry. No fault.

Line 4 repairs the well’s lining and assigns no fault to that work. Changing it makes Lake above Wind, Hexagram 28. The well wall and that figure’s strained ridgepole are two images of support under different conditions.

井冽，寒泉食。

The well is clear. Its cold spring can be drunk.

Clear, cold water is available to drink at the upper center, Line 5. Changing it replaces upper Water with Earth, forming Hexagram 46. The well’s nourishment can be compared with growth through the earth.

井收，勿幕。有孚，元吉。

The well is drawn from. Do not cover it. Trust is present. Greatly favorable.

The well is kept open for drawing in Line 6, with trust and a strongly favorable verdict. Changing the line makes Wind above Wind, Hexagram 57. Repetition belongs to the new figure’s structure; continued public access to a source remains a matter of use and care.