Hexagram 43 of 64 · Lake ☱ over Heaven ☰
Breakthrough
Guài
Breakthrough — five strong lines against the last one of darkness; the resolute, public, and lawful removal of what must go.
The Judgment
Breakthrough: one must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king. It must be announced truthfully. Danger. It is necessary to notify one’s own city. It does not further one to resort to arms. It furthers one to undertake something.
The Image
The lake has risen up to heaven: water gathered so high it must break and fall as rain. The wise person dispenses riches downward and refrains from resting on their virtue — a breakthrough is completed by generosity, not by triumph.
Hexagram 43 Meaning
The single yin line at the top is the last remnant of the dark, about to be swept away by five yang lines. Breakthrough is the decisive resolution of something that has lingered — a bad influence, a lie, a habit, a person who has held on past their time. The hexagram gives precise rules: make it public, be truthful, be aware of the danger, warn your own side, and do not use violence. Resoluteness is right; brutality is not. And afterward, give rather than gloat.
Breakthrough in Love
A decisive moment: ending something that has lingered, saying the thing that has been unsaid, removing the last obstacle to the relationship you want. The hexagram favours the clean, honest break over the messy one. Announce it truthfully; do not scheme; do not fight dirty. If you are ending a relationship, end it in the open with dignity. If you are removing a third-party influence, do it by clear statement, not by force. Then be generous.
Breakthrough in Career & Money
The corruption is exposed, the bad actor is removed, the long-delayed decision is finally made. The hexagram counsels doing it publicly and correctly — through proper channels, with documentation, with the truth stated plainly. Do not resort to arms: no coups, no sabotage, no revenge. Warn your allies. Once it is done, share the benefit widely rather than claiming the victory.
What to Do
Resolve it — decisively, truthfully, and in the open. Do not use force or deceit; be aware there is danger even in a righteous act. Then give generously and do not rest on your virtue.
Breakthrough as a Yes or No
yes
Yes — decisive, honest action breaks through; the last obstacle can be removed if you do it correctly.
The Trigrams
Above: Lake (兌 Duì) — the joyous — pleasure, openness, the youngest daughter.
Below: Heaven (乾 Qián) — the creative — strength, initiative, the father.
The Six Lines of Breakthrough
Read when the line is moving (a 6 or 9 in the cast). Bottom line first.
- 1
Line 1 · yang
Mighty in the forward-striding toes, when one goes and is not equal to the task, one makes a mistake: the first move is too bold — proceed with caution.
- 2
Line 2 · yang
A cry of alarm, arms at evening and night — fear nothing: preparedness and vigilance; you are ready and safe.
- 3
Line 3 · yang
To be powerful in the cheekbones brings misfortune; the superior person is firmly resolved — he walks alone and is caught in the rain, he is bespattered and people murmur against him, no blame: outward hostility while inwardly linked — misjudged but correct.
- 4
Line 4 · yang
There is no skin on his thighs and walking comes hard, if a man were to let himself be led like a sheep, remorse would disappear — but if these words are heard, they will not be believed: obstinacy blocks you; you will not listen.
- 5
Line 5 · yang
In dealing with weeds, firm resolution is necessary, walking in the middle one remains free of blame: keep pulling the weed — it comes back; stay in the middle path.
- 6
Line 6 · yin
No cry, in the end misfortune comes: the last dark line, thinking itself safe — it falls.
Will Breakthrough Appear in Your Cast?
Cast the coins on your own question — free, instant, with every moving line explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hexagram 43, Breakthrough, mean?
The single yin line at the top is the last remnant of the dark, about to be swept away by five yang lines. Breakthrough is the decisive resolution of something that has lingered — a bad influence, a lie, a habit, a person who has held on past their time. The hexagram gives precise rules: make it public, be truthful, be aware of the danger, warn your own side, and do not use violence. Resoluteness is right; brutality is not. And afterward, give rather than gloat.
What does Breakthrough mean in love?
A decisive moment: ending something that has lingered, saying the thing that has been unsaid, removing the last obstacle to the relationship you want. The hexagram favours the clean, honest break over the messy one. Announce it truthfully; do not scheme; do not fight dirty. If you are ending a relationship, end it in the open with dignity. If you are removing a third-party influence, do it by clear statement, not by force. Then be generous.
What does Breakthrough mean for career and money?
The corruption is exposed, the bad actor is removed, the long-delayed decision is finally made. The hexagram counsels doing it publicly and correctly — through proper channels, with documentation, with the truth stated plainly. Do not resort to arms: no coups, no sabotage, no revenge. Warn your allies. Once it is done, share the benefit widely rather than claiming the victory.
Is hexagram 43 a yes or a no?
Breakthrough answers "yes". Yes — decisive, honest action breaks through; the last obstacle can be removed if you do it correctly.
Previous hexagram
42. Increase
gain
Next hexagram
44. Coming to Meet
temptation
Last updated: August 30, 2026
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