What this hexagram is about
Thunder within the earth, a single line of light returning — the image of the light force coming back, a new beginning. It speaks of turning back from a lost path and of the endless cycle: to be able to turn back in time from a wrong is itself the seed of new life.
The Judgment 卦辞
复，亨。出入无疾，朋来无咎。反复其道，七日来复，利有攸往。
Success. Going out and coming in without harm; friends come without fault. The way turns and returns; in seven days comes the return. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
The Image 大象传
《象》曰：雷在地中，复；先王以至日闭关，商旅不行，后不省方。
Thunder rests within the earth, returning; so the ancient kings closed the passes at the solstice — merchants did not travel, and the ruler did not tour the regions.
Commentary on the Lines 小象传
不远之复，以修身也。
Returning before going far — and so cultivating oneself.
The Six Lines (hover over the figure above)
Six at the top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。
To persist in error and lose the chance to return — misfortune, and calamity follows. Lead an army by this, and it ends in crushing defeat; the ruler too is dragged into ruin, so that for ten years one is powerless to march out.
Six in the fifth place敦复，无悔。
To return to the right way in honest sincerity — no remorse.
Six in the fourth place中行独复。
Moving among the crowd, yet able to return to the right way alone.
Nine in the third place频复，厉，无咎。
To lose the way and turn back again and again, returning only after repeated lapses; though there is danger, there is no great fault.
Six in the second place休复，吉。
To return to the right way gladly and well — good fortune.
Initial Six不远复，无祗悔，元吉。
To turn back from straying before one has gone far, so that no great remorse befalls — the highest good fortune.