Scryway

Hexagram 45

萃 Cuì · Gathering

Legge: Zhui

☱ Lake (Duì) above ☷ Earth (Kūn)

Scryway summary

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

People and resources coming together. Shared purpose, preparation and care for the unforeseen.

The judgment

In (the state denoted by) Zhui, 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 image

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

The lines, bottom to top

  1. Bottom line, broken

    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.

  2. Second line, broken

    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.

  3. Third line, broken

    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.

  4. Fourth line, solid

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

  5. Fifth line, solid

    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.

  6. Top line, broken

    The topmost line, divided, shows its subject sighing and weeping; 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.