Hexagram 45 of 64

Gathering Together萃

The lake rises over the earth. The noble person repairs weapons and prepares for the unexpected.

Upper
Lake
Lower
Earth
Order
45 / 64
Pick a line to read it

王假有廟，利見大人，亨。利貞。用大牲吉，利有攸往。

Judgment: The king comes to his temple. It helps to see a great person. Success. Steadiness pays. A great offering brings good fortune. It helps to go forward.

澤上于地，萃；君子以除戎器，戒不虞。

Image: The lake rises over the earth. The noble person repairs weapons and prepares for the unexpected.

In plain words

The situation: People and resources are gathering.

What you can do: Organise well and be prepared for disorder.

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

The six lines

  1. 上六齎咨涕洟，无咎。Sighs and tears. No fault.In shortSighing and tearful, you feel left out; express it honestly and no great harm follows.
  2. 九五萃有位，无咎。匪孚，元永貞，悔亡。Gathering with rank. No fault. Some do not yet trust. With great, lasting steadiness, regret fades.In shortYou hold the position but not full trust yet; stay steady over time and regret fades.
  3. 九四大吉，无咎。Great good fortune. No fault.In shortVery favorable, as long as you do it the right way.
  4. 六三萃如，嗟如，无攸利，往无咎，小吝。Gathering with sighs. Nothing is gained. Going on brings no fault, a little regret.In shortYou want in but sigh at no response; go anyway, only a little awkwardness.
  5. 六二引吉，无咎，孚乃利用禴。Drawn along, good fortune and no fault. With trust, even a small offering helps.In shortBeing brought in by others goes well; sincerity matters more than show.
  6. 初六有孚不終，乃亂乃萃，若號一握為笑，勿恤，往无咎。Trust that does not last: now confusion, now gathering. If you call out, a handshake turns to laughter. Do not worry. Going on brings no fault.In shortTrust wavers and the group is in a muddle; drop your worries and step closer.

Sources Zhou Yi. English by TaoDial.