小畜 Xiǎo Chù · Small restraint

The judgment

Hsiao Khu 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.

The image

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

The lines, bottom to top

1. Bottom line, solid

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

2. Second line, solid

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

3. Third line, solid

   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.

4. Fourth line, broken

   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.

5. Fifth line, solid

   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).

6. Top line, solid

   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.