After Completion (Jì Jì)

Judgment

既济：亨，小利贞，初吉终乱。

Plain Meaning：After completion: success in small continued correctness—good at first, disorder at the end if vigilance lapses.

Image (Great Commentary)

水在火上，既济；君子以思患而豫防之。

Line Texts

• 初九曳其轮，濡其尾，无咎。

  Dragging the wheel, wetting the tail—holding back; no blame.

• 六二妇丧其茀，勿逐，七日得。

  The lady loses her carriage screen—do not chase; in seven days it returns.

• 九三高宗伐鬼方，三年克之，小人勿用。

  Gaozong conquers the Devil’s Country in three years—do not employ the petty afterward.

• 六四繻有衣袽，终日戒。

  Rags ready for the leaking boat—vigilant all day long.

• 九五东邻杀牛，不如西邻之禴祭，实受其福。

  The eastern neighbor’s ox is worth less than the western neighbor’s simple, sincere offering.

• 上六濡其首，厉。

  Head in the water—peril from forgetting danger at the end.

Symbolism

Water over fire, each in place: completion—and the peril of keeping it.

Life Lesson

After success, anticipate trouble and stay as careful as at the start.

Modern Application

After a win, institutionalize safeguards against complacency.

Words of Caution

Vigilance dropped after victory loses what was won.