Hexagram 9: Xiao Chu

Judgment

亨。密雲不雨，自我西郊。

Hsiâo Khû indicates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and success. (We see) dense clouds, but no rain coming from our borders in the west.

Things can still go through, and the picture is of dense clouds gathering in the west without any rain. A small restraining force has built up pressure and has not yet been able to release it.

Image

風行天上，小畜；君子以懿文德。

(The trigram representing) the sky, and that representing wind moving above it, form Hsiâo Khû. The superior man, in accordance with this, adorns the outward manifestation of his virtue.

Line 1 · 初九

復自道，何其咎，吉。

The first line, undivided, shows its subject returning and pursuing his own course. What mistake should he fall into? There will be good fortune.

When something checks your advance, you go back to your own proper path. There is nothing to fault in that, and the omen is good.

Line 2 · 九二

牽復，吉。

The second line, undivided, shows its subject, by the attraction (of the former line), returning (to the proper course). There will be good fortune.

A companion is returning to the right course, and you are pulled back along with them. The text speaks well of it.

Line 3 · 九三

車說輹，夫妻反目。

The third line, undivided, suggests the idea of a carriage, the strap beneath which has been removed, or of a husband and wife looking on each other with averted eyes.

A cart that has lost its axle strap cannot move, and people who should pull together glare at each other. Pushing forward while held back breeds quarrels among those closest to you.

Line 4 · 六四

有孚，血去惕出，无咎。

The fourth line, divided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity. The danger of bloodshed is thereby averted, and his (ground for) apprehension dismissed. There will be no mistake.

Sincerity clears the danger, so the harm and the fear both go away and no fault is left.

Line 5 · 九五

有孚攣如，富以其鄰。

The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity, and drawing others to unite with him. Rich in resources, he employs his neighbours (in the same cause with himself).

Good faith binds you closely to the people around you, and you share what you have with them. The text pictures wealth that enriches the neighbors too.

Line 6 · 上九

既雨既處，尚得載，婦貞厲，月幾望，君子征凶。

The topmost line, undivided, shows how the rain has fallen, and the (onward progress) is stayed;--(so) must we value the full accumulation of the virtue (represented by the upper trigram). But a wife (exercising restraint), however firm and correct she may be, is in a position of peril, (and like) the moon approaching to the full. If the superior man prosecute his measures (in such circumstances), there will be evil.

Rain falls at last and things settle, so the stored-up strength can be carried forward. The moon is nearly full, a sign of pressure at its height, and setting out now invites trouble.