復
Fù · Return
Return is not starting over; it is coming back to the road you already know.
The judgment
復：亨。 出入無疾，朋來無咎。 反復其道，七日來復，利有攸往。
Return succeeds. Going out and coming in without harm; friends arrive, no blame. The way turns back, and after seven days comes the return. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex24.judgment.
The image
象曰：雷在地中，復。先王以至日閉關，商旅不行，後不省方。
Thunder inside the earth: return. The old kings closed the passes at the solstice, stopped trade, and did not tour: rest at the turning point.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex24.image.
Return is not starting over; it is coming back to the road you already know.
The six lines
Each line is a stage, from the bottom of the hexagram to the top. Open any line to read it in plain English.
初九 不復遠，無只悔，元吉。 You return before going far. No regret, great good fortune: the earlier you turn, the cheaper it is.
You return before going far. No regret, great good fortune: the earlier you turn, the cheaper it is.
六二 休復，吉。 A quiet return. Good fortune: coming back without drama is the best kind.
A quiet return. Good fortune: coming back without drama is the best kind.
六三 頻復，厲無咎。 Returning again and again, and it is dangerous, but no blame. Repeated failure is still better than not returning.
Returning again and again, and it is dangerous, but no blame. Repeated failure is still better than not returning.
六四 中行獨復。 Walking in the middle, you return alone. No blame is stated: sometimes the right road has no company.
Walking in the middle, you return alone. No blame is stated: sometimes the right road has no company.
六五 敦復，無悔。 A generous, solid return. No regret: you come back with your whole self.
A generous, solid return. No regret: you come back with your whole self.
上六 迷復，凶，有災眚。用行師，終有大敗，以其國君凶﹔至於十年不克征。 A lost return: misfortune, disaster. Sending the army ends in great defeat and brings down the ruler; for ten years there is no campaign.
A lost return: misfortune, disaster. Sending the army ends in great defeat and brings down the ruler; for ten years there is no campaign.