井 · 深
Judgement
改邑不改井，无丧无得，往来井井；汔至，亦未繘井，羸其瓶，凶。
One may change the town, but not the well. Nothing is lost, nothing gained; going and coming, the well goes on. The rope nearly reaches, but the well is not yet drawn; the pitcher breaks. Ill.
The Image
木上有水，井。君子以劳民劝相。
Above wood, water: the well. So the superior man encourages the people in their labour and urges them to help one another.
The Lines
井泥不食，旧井无禽。
Well mud, not drinkable; the old well has no birds.
“井泥不食”，下也；“旧井无禽”，时舍也。
Well mud, not drinkable: below. The old well has no birds: the time has abandoned it.
井谷射鲋，瓮敝漏。
The well valley shoots at the minnows; the jug is broken and leaking.
“井谷射鲋”，无与也。
The well valley shoots at the minnows: none stand with him.
井渫不食，为我心恻；可用汲，王明，并受其福。
The well is cleared but not drunk; this is my heart’s sorrow. One could draw from it; if the king were clear, all would share the blessing.
“井渫不食”，行恻也；求“王明”，受福也。
The well is cleared but not drunk: his walk causes sorrow. Seeking the king’s clarity: he receives blessing.
井甃，无咎。
The well is lined; no blame.
“井甃，无咎”，修井也。
The well is lined, no blame: the well is repaired.
井冽，寒泉食。
The well is cold, the spring’s water is drinkable.
“寒泉”之“食”，中正也。
The spring’s water is drinkable: centrality and correctness.
井收勿幕，有孚元吉。
The well is drawn and not covered; with sincerity, supreme good fortune.
“元吉”在上，大成也。
Supreme good fortune above: great completion.
Reading
以木引井之水：井不变，变的是绳。井是经文历尽诸变而不拆的那一处——可以修，不可以迁。它的告诫是那够不到水的绳：无人来饮的井。