Scryway

Hexagram 17

隨 Suí · Following

Legge: Sui

☱ Lake (Duì) above ☳ Thunder (Zhèn)

Scryway summary

Modern commentary written for Scryway. Not part of the classic text.

Adapting to the time and to good leadership. To follow well, follow what is right.

The judgment

Sui indicates that (under its conditions) there will be great progress and success. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. There will (then) be no error.

The image

(The trigram for the waters of) a marsh and (that for) thunder (hidden) in the midst of it form Sui. The superior man in accordance with this, when it is getting towards dark, enters (his house) and rests.

The lines, bottom to top

  1. Bottom line, solid

    The first line, undivided, shows us one changing the object of his pursuit; but if he be firm and correct, there will be good fortune. Going beyond (his own) gate to find associates, he will achieve merit.

  2. Second line, broken

    The second line, divided, shows us one who cleaves to the little boy, and lets go the man of age and experience.

  3. Third line, broken

    The third line, divided, shows us one who cleaves to the man of age and experience, and lets go the little boy. Such following will get what it seeks; but it will be advantageous to adhere to what is firm and correct.

  4. Fourth line, solid

    The fourth line, undivided, shows us one followed and obtaining (adherents). Though he be firm and correct, there will be evil. If he be sincere (however) in his course, and make that evident, into what error will he fall?

  5. Fifth line, solid

    The fifth line, undivided, shows us (the ruler) sincere in (fostering all) that is excellent. There will be good fortune.

  6. Top line, broken

    The topmost line, divided, shows us (that sincerity) firmly held and clung to, yea, and bound fast. (We see) the king with it presenting his offerings on the western mountain.

Quoted from James Legge (trans.), The Yi King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1882. Public domain. The image is from Legge’s Appendix II. Words in parentheses are Legge’s additions.