The 64 hexagrams · No. 48
Hexagram 48: The Well
Water above Wood. Care for a dependable source.
An original modern reflection on the I Ching image. This is not a translation of the classical Judgment or line statements.
Care for a dependable source
The well points toward something people can return to: a source that needs access and maintenance as well as water. Look for the useful resource already nearby. It may be a shared tool, a body of knowledge, or a trusted connection. Regular care keeps it available.
A question to sit with
Which lasting resource have you relied on without recently checking whether it is still easy to use?
One small step
Maintain one useful source today: update a guide, organize a shared folder, repair a tool, or reconnect with the person who helps keep it working.
Reading the figure
The upper trigram is Water; the lower trigram is Wind. Xun is associated with both wind and wood, so its imagery may describe a breeze or a growing tree. The first line is at the bottom, and the sixth is at the top. You identify this hexagram from its six-line figure, not from a word match to your question.
Read the image alongside the actual circumstances you know. Notice what fits and what does not. The relating hexagram depends on your changing lines, so there is no single fixed “next hexagram” for this pattern.
What changes when one line moves?
This map changes exactly one line at a time. If your cast has several changing lines, all of them flip together; the resulting pattern may differ from every row below. These are structural changes, not translations of the classical line statements.
| Changing position | Relating hexagram |
|---|---|
| Line 1 · bottom | 5. Waiting |
| Line 2 | 39. Obstruction |
| Line 3 | 29. The Abysmal |
| Line 4 | 28. Great Preponderance |
| Line 5 | 46. Pushing Upward |
| Line 6 · top | 57. The Gentle Wind |
Learn how changing lines work →
Keep a reading journal
If this hexagram appeared in a reading, note your question, your six coin totals, and one thing you want to observe. Come back later to record what happened. Your notes can help you see how your understanding changed, even when a reflection did not fit.
Try the free three-coin I Ching tool →
Classical reference: The Book of Changes. English names vary by edition; the number, pinyin and figure make the identification clear. About our method and sources.