小畜
Xiǎo ChùUpper: Wind · 巽 · Lower: Heaven · 乾
Judgment亨。密云不雨，自我西郊。
In plain wordsSuccess, but dense clouds gather without rain, coming from our western outskirts. Strength is still small and conditions are not yet enough, so for now only a little can be accumulated.
The imageWind above, heaven below: wind drifts across the sky and can only gather clouds, not yet bring rain, so what is stored up is still small.
A hint for youThis is a time to build up and adjust rather than make big moves. Do the small tasks in front of you well, and a turn will come when conditions are ready, without forcing the result.
Line texts (bottom to top)
- 初九复自道，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.
- 九二牵复，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.
- 九三车说輹，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.
- 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.
- 九五有孚挛如，富以其邻。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).
- 上九既雨既处，尚得载，妇贞厉，月几望，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.
Small restraint; build up quietly
For entertainment and self-reflection only