Hexagram 5 of 64

Xū — Clouds That Wait

水天需 · Legge: Hsu · Water above, Heaven below

Nothing can be done yet; the danger lies in moving early, not in the waiting itself.

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The Judgment

Xū. With the sincerity which is declared in it, there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.

Legge’s 1882 translation

Hsu intimates that, with the sincerity which is declared in it, there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.

The Image

V. (The trigram for) clouds ascending over that for the sky forms Hsu. The superior man, in accordance with this, eats and drinks, feasts and enjoys himself (as if there were nothing else to employ him).

云上于天,需;君子以饮食宴乐。

The Six Lines

The first nine · 初九

The first line, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be well for him constantly to maintain, in which case there will be no error.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The first nine, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be well for him constantly to maintain (the purpose thus shown), in which case there will be no error.

The second nine · 九二

The second line, undivided, shows its subject waiting on the sand of the mountain stream. He will suffer the small injury of being spoken against, but in the end there will be good fortune.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The second nine, undivided, shows its subject waiting on the sand (of the mountain stream). He will (suffer) the small (injury of) being spoken (against), but in the end there will be good fortune.

The third nine · 九三

The third line, undivided, shows its subject in the mud. He thereby invites the approach of injury.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The third nine, undivided, shows its subject in the mud (close by the stream). He thereby invites the approach of injury.

The fourth six · 六四

The fourth line, divided, shows its subject waiting in the place of blood. But he will get out of the cavern.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The fourth six, divided, shows its subject waiting in (the place of) blood. But he will get out of the cavern.

The fifth nine · 九五

The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject waiting amidst the appliances of a feast. Through his firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The fifth nine, undivided, shows its subject waiting amidst the appliances of a feast. Through his firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.

The topmost six · 上六

The topmost line, divided, shows its subject entered into the cavern. There are three guests coming, without being urged,. If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The topmost six, divided, shows its subject entered into the cavern. (But) there are three guests coming, without being urged, (to his help). If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end.

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