Hexagram 24Upper Kun · EarthLower Zhen · Thunder

Fu · Return

复卦 · 地雷复

Return
Recovery
Fresh start
Turning point

The Judgment

Fû indicates that there will be free course and progress (in what it denotes). (The subject of it) finds no one to distress him in his exits and entrances; friends come to him, and no error is committed. He will return and repeat his (proper) course. In seven days comes his return. There will be advantage in whatever direction movement is made.

通泰。出门、居处均无疾病。有钱可赚而可以无灾祸。往返途中，七日可归。有所往则有所利。

The Image

Thunder within the earth: return. The ancient kings, in the same way, closed the passes at the solstice; merchants did not travel and the ruler did not tour the regions.

雷在地中，复。先王以至日闭关，商旅不行，后不省方。

Plain-language reading

Your situation

The hardest part is passing and new life is beginning to stir. Fu is a single yang line returning from beneath the earth, like the days starting to lengthen after the winter solstice. You may have just come out of a low point, a mistake or a time of being lost, and you are getting ready to start again.

Where to put your effort

Turning back in time matters more than going far. If you find you are on the wrong path, return to the right one as early as you can. Restart with small steps, rebuild gradually and do not try to recover everything at once. Give yourself time to rest; the rhythm will come back on its own.

Four areas of life

Career: Good luck is just arriving; wait quietly for it to take off.
Wealth: Hold off selling for now and you will profit.
Family: Wait for spring to move; a marriage can be made in early spring.
Health: Phlegm and heat; take care in winter.

Health notes come from traditional texts and are cultural reference only. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.

The six lines

Read from the bottom up: the first line is at the bottom, the top line is at the top. Open each line for details.

Nine at the beginningThe first line, undivided, shows its subject returning (from an error) of no great extent, which would not proceed to anything requiring repentance. There will be great good fortune.Moving

初九：不远复，无祇悔，元吉。

Image：Returning before going far: to cultivate oneself.

Career: Good luck is gradually rising; everything goes smoothly.
Wealth: You will win back your losses; no need to fret.
Family: The old family business revives; a marriage comes together again.
Health: Quiet rest will restore you.

Six in the second placeThe second line, divided, shows the admirable return (of its subject). There will be good fortune.Moving

六二：休复，吉。

Image：The good fortune of a peaceful return: humbling oneself to the good.

Career: Follow what is good and everything goes well.
Wealth: Share profits with others and the business thrives.
Family: Harmony builds the family.
Health: Go back to your previous doctor.

Six in the third placeThe third line, divided, shows one who has made repeated returns. The position is perilous, but there will be no error.Moving

六三：频复，厉，无咎。

Image：The danger of returning again and again: by its meaning, no blame.

Career: Up and down; it is in your own hands.
Wealth: Gains and losses, all down to you.
Family: Moving around without settling.
Health: It keeps coming back after treatment; risky but not fatal.

Six in the fourth placeThe fourth line, divided, shows its subject moving right in the centre (among those represented by the other divided lines), and yet returning alone (to his proper path).Moving

六四：中行独复。

Image：Walking in the middle and returning alone: following the way.

Career: You want to rally but lack the strength.
Wealth: The plan is clever, but the capital is not enough.
Family: More women than men; go with the earlier matchmaker.
Health: Stay with the doctor who first treated you.

Six in the fifth placeThe fifth line, divided, shows the noble return of its subject. There will be no ground for repentance.Moving

六五：敦复，无悔。

Image：Generous return, no regret: examining oneself from the centre.

Career: Be generous and you will succeed without regret.
Wealth: Ample capital; profit from trading back and forth.
Family: Carry the family legacy to new heights.
Health: Energy is ageing; no need to worry too much.

Six at the topThe topmost line, divided, shows its subject all astray on the subject of returning. There will be evil. There will be calamities and errors. If with his views he put the hosts in motion, the end will be a great defeat, whose issues will extend to the ruler of the state. Even in ten years he will not be able to repair the disaster.Moving

上六：迷复，凶，有灾眚。用行师，终有大败，以其国君凶，至于十年不克征。

Image：The misfortune of a lost return: going against the way of the ruler.

Career: Acting perversely; be careful to avoid disaster.
Wealth: Nothing goes smoothly; hard to restart the business.
Family: Unfavourable for those who stay.
Health: Hard to preserve.

Related hexagrams

Judgment and line texts from the public-domain translation by James Legge (1882). Readings by DeepHeart AI.

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