Scryway

Hexagram 44

姤 Gòu · Encounter

Legge: Kau

☰ Heaven (Qián) above ☴ Wind, wood (Xùn)

Scryway summary

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

An unexpected meeting with something strong. Weigh what you allow in.

The judgment

Kau shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry (such) a female.

The image

(The trigram representing) wind and that for the sky above it form Kau. The sovereign, in accordance with this, delivers his charges, and promulgates his announcements throughout the four quarters (of the kingdom).

The lines, bottom to top

  1. Bottom line, broken

    The first line, divided, shows how its subject should be kept (like a carriage) tied and fastened to a metal drag, in which case with firm correctness there will be good fortune. (But) if he move in any direction, evil will appear. He will be (like) a lean pig, which is sure to keep jumping about.

  2. Second line, solid

    The second line, undivided, shows its subject with a wallet of fish. There will be no error. But it will not be well to let (the subject of the first line) go forward to the guests.

  3. Third line, solid

    The third line, undivided, shows one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped so that he walks with difficulty. The position is perilous, but there will be no great error.

  4. Fourth line, solid

    The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject with his wallet, but no fish in it. This will give rise to evil.

  5. Fifth line, solid

    The fifth line, undivided, (shows its subject as) a medlar tree overspreading the gourd (beneath it). If he keep his brilliant qualities concealed, (a good issue) will descend (as) from Heaven.

  6. Top line, solid

    The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject receiving others on his horns. There will be occasion for regret, but there will be no error.

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.