After Completion

曳其輪，濡其尾，无咎。

Dragging the wheels, wetting the tail. No fault.

Dragged wheels and a wet tail restrain movement at Line 1, whose verdict is no fault. Its change makes Mountain below Water, Hexagram 39. Caution after completion and the theme of obstruction can be considered together.

婦喪其茀，勿逐，七日得。

A woman loses her carriage screen. Do not pursue it; after seven days, it is regained.

Line 2 forbids pursuing the lost carriage screen and sets its recovery after seven days. Changing it makes Heaven below Water, Hexagram 5. Waiting is a close thematic comparison; the stated interval belongs to this classical line.

高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用。

Gaozong attacks the Guifang and conquers them after three years. Do not employ petty people.

At Line 3, Gaozong’s campaign lasts three years before victory, and the passage warns against employing petty people. Its change makes Thunder below Water, Hexagram 3. The difficulties of beginning form a contrast with the long effort of completing the campaign.

繻有衣袽，終日戒。

Rags are at hand for a leaking boat. Remain on guard throughout the day.

In the traditional boat reading, rags are kept ready to stop leaks, and vigilance lasts all day. Changing Line 4 makes Lake above Fire, Hexagram 49. Preventive care and a change of established order are separate themes to compare.

東鄰殺牛，不如西鄰之禴祭，實受其福。

The eastern neighbor's ox sacrifice does not equal the western neighbor's simple offering; the blessing goes to the latter.

In Line 5, the western neighbor’s modest seasonal offering receives a blessing that the eastern neighbor’s ox sacrifice does not. Its change makes Earth above Fire, Hexagram 36. The contrast places an unshowy rite beside the theme of hidden light.

濡其首，厲。

The head is wetted. Danger.

At Line 6, the head is immersed at the end of After Completion, and the verdict is danger. Its change makes Wind above Fire, Hexagram 37. The household’s ordered relations offer a contrast to the crossing image carried beyond safety.