Hexagram 11 of 64

Peace泰

Heaven and earth meet. The ruler shapes the way of heaven and earth, supports what suits them, and so helps the people.

Upper
Earth
Lower
Heaven
Order
11 / 64
Pick a line to read it

小往大來，吉亨。

Judgment: The small goes, the great comes. Good fortune and success.

天地交，泰；后以財成天地之道，輔相天地之宜，以左右民。

Image: Heaven and earth meet. The ruler shapes the way of heaven and earth, supports what suits them, and so helps the people.

In plain words

The situation: Things flow well between people. All is going smoothly.

What you can do: Use the good time to build, and do not grow slack.

For culture and reflection only. Our own plain summary, not a translation.

The six lines

  1. 上六城復于隍，勿用師，自邑告命，貞吝。The city wall falls back into the moat. Do not use the army. From your own town, give the order. Even with steadiness, regret.In shortThe good run is ending; do not fight it, tend to your own area, or it gets awkward.
  2. 六五帝乙歸妹，以祉，元吉。King Yi gives his daughter in marriage. This brings blessing and great good fortune.In shortJoining others humbly brings blessings and great good fortune.
  3. 六四翩翩，不富以其鄰；不戒以孚。Fluttering down, not rich, with neighbors alongside. No warning is needed, because there is trust.In shortMix freely with others, relying on sincerity rather than wealth; trust flows both ways.
  4. 九三无平不陂，无往不復，艱貞无咎。勿恤其孚，于食有福。No flat without a slope, no going without a return. Stay steady through hardship and there is no fault. Do not worry about your sincerity: there is blessing in what you eat.In shortGood times do not last forever; hold steady through hardship and you will be fine.
  5. 九二包荒。用馮河，不遐遺；朋亡。得尚于中行。Embrace the wild places. Cross the river on foot. Do not neglect what is far off. Let friends go. You will win honor on the middle way.In shortBe broad-minded and bold, do not forget distant ones or form cliques, and stay balanced.
  6. 初九拔茅茹以其彙，征吉。Pull up the reed and its roots come with it, tied to its kind. Going forward brings good fortune.In shortMove forward together with your allies; this goes well.

Sources Zhou Yi. English by TaoDial.