Hexagram 45: Cui

Judgment

王假有廟，利見大人，亨。利貞。用大牲吉，利有攸往。

In (the state denoted by) Žhui, the king will repair to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man; and then there will be progress and success, though the advantage must come through firm correctness. The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous.

The king goes to the ancestral temple, where people's hearts gather, and it helps to meet a capable leader. Staying correct matters, and a generous offering is the fitting choice, with moving ahead favorable.

Image

澤上於地，萃；君子以除戎器，戒不虞。

(The trigram representing the) earth and that for the waters of a marsh raised above it form Žhui. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his weapons of war put in good repair, to be prepared against unforeseen contingencies.

Line 1 · 初六

有孚不終，乃亂乃萃，若號一握為笑，勿恤，往无咎。

The first line, divided, shows its subject with a sincere desire (for union), but unable to carry it out, so that disorder is brought into the sphere of his union. If he cry out (for help to his proper correlate), all at once (his tears) will give place to smiles. He need not mind (the temporary difficulty); as he goes forward, there will be no error.

Your sincerity wavers, so you drift into the wrong crowd. Call out to the one you belong with, and the worry turns into a smile, with no fault in moving on.

Line 2 · 六二

引吉，无咎，孚乃利用禴。

The second line, divided, shows its subject led forward (by his correlate). There will be good fortune, and freedom from error. There is entire sincerity, and in that case (even the small offerings of) the vernal sacrifice are acceptable.

Someone above draws you along, and there is no fault in following. Real sincerity makes even a small spring offering fitting.

Line 3 · 六三

萃如，嗟如，无攸利，往无咎，小吝。

The third line, divided, shows its subject striving after union and seeming to sigh, yet nowhere finding any advantage. If he go forward, he will not err, though there may be some small cause for regret.

You try to join a group and end up sighing, because nothing here benefits you. Moving on toward the stronger one above you brings no fault, with a small sting of embarrassment.

Line 4 · 九四

大吉，无咎。

The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject in such a state that, if he be greatly fortunate, he will receive no blame.

Gathering people from a seat that is not fully yours is free of fault only when the result is very good.

Line 5 · 九五

萃有位，无咎。匪孚，元永貞，悔亡。

The fifth line, undivided, shows the union (of all) under its subject in the place of dignity. There will be no error. If any do not have confidence in him, let him see to it that (his virtue) be great, long-continued, and firmly correct, and all occasion for repentance will disappear.

You hold the central seat of the gathering, so the position itself is sound. If some still do not trust you, build deep, lasting steadiness and the regret clears.

Line 6 · 上六

齎資涕洟，无咎。

The topmost line, divided, shows its subject sighing and weeping; but there will be no error.

Out at the end you are alone, sighing and in tears, with no one gathered around you. Because you feel the loss honestly, you are free of fault.