44 · 姤

Hexagram 44, 姤. Original Chinese judgment: 女壯，勿用取女。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.

Judgment

女壯，勿用取女。

《周易》通行本

Line texts

  1. 初六：繫于金柅，貞吉，有攸往，見凶，羸豕孚蹢躅。
  2. 九二：包有魚，无咎，不利賓。
  3. 九三：臀无膚，其行次且，厲，无大咎。
  4. 九四：包无魚，起凶。
  5. 九五：以杞包瓜，含章，有隕自天。
  6. 上九：姤其角，吝，无咎。

Tuan commentary

姤，遇也，柔遇剛也。勿用取女，不可與長也。天地相遇，品物咸章也。剛遇中正，天下大行也。姤之時義大矣哉！

维基文库 · 周易 · 姤

Great Image commentary

天下有風，姤；後以施命誥四方。

Small Images · bottom to top

  1. 系于金柅，柔道牽也。
  2. 包有魚，義不及賓也。
  3. 其行次且，行未牽也。
  4. 无魚之凶，遠民也。
  5. 九五含章，中正也。有隕自天，志不捨命也。
  6. 姤其角，上窮吝也。

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese

Working translation of this site’s Chinese summaries based on traditional sources, not verbatim quotations from the commentator or a translation of the classical text. Native-language review is incomplete. Traditional imagery is not medical, legal or other professional advice.

朱熹《周易本義》

維基文庫 · 周易本義（四庫全書本）卷二

Judgment exegesis

Zhu Xi explains Gou as an unexpected encounter when one yin line suddenly appears after pure yang. The encounter is not proper and one yin faces five yang; the original commentary therefore warns through the historical phrase of a strong woman, emphasizing caution at the first subtle emergence.

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts

  1. The first yin line has newly emerged. Quiet correctness is auspicious, further growth inauspicious. A lean pig still capable of restless movement warns of preparing while signs are slight.
  2. The second yang line encounters the first yin line, like having fish in a wrapping. Control remains with itself, avoiding blame; contact with more people would expand the influence.
  3. The third yang line is excessively firm and not centered, unable to meet the first yin below and without correspondence above. Unsettled and hesitant, it faces danger but no great blame because it has not been drawn in.
  4. The fourth yang line properly corresponds with the first yin, but loses contact because the first meets the second beforehand, like a wrapping without fish. Distance from the people it should correspond with brings an inauspicious reading.
  5. Firm, centered correctness above in the fifth yang line faces newly arising, unstable yin below. Concealing refinement with quiet restraint may allow a turn in the time.
  6. Firmness above without a position in the top line reaches the limit of encounter and ultimately meets no one. Though there is humiliation, no further fault arises.

Plain-language reading

Working translation of this site’s Chinese editorial reading, not an edition of the classical text, a verbatim quotation from a commentator or a prediction. Native-language review is not yet complete.

Judgment introduction

Gou describes one yin line suddenly appearing after pure yang, an image of an unexpected encounter. Using the gendered language of its ancient context, the text calls for careful discernment of a newly emerging force even when it is small. The emphasis is on observing the first subtle signs in advance.

Plain-language reading · Line texts

  1. One yin line has just arisen. Quietly maintaining the proper way is auspicious; further growth brings danger, so prepare while the signs are still small.
  2. Like having a fish in a wrapping, the influence is still contained. If it spreads further and reaches others, the situation changes.
  3. Firm but not centered, one has neither achieved an encounter nor found corresponding support, so action is hesitant. Not having been drawn in, however, one has no great fault.
  4. The original corresponding partner has already met another, like a wrapping without a fish. Distance from those with whom one should correspond creates danger.
  5. Firm, centered correctness faces a newly emerging, changeable force. Keep refinement concealed and wait for changing times with quiet restraint.
  6. The encounter has reached its limit and ultimately no meeting occurs. Although there is humiliation, there is no further fault.

Read the source