Hexagram 45 of 64 · King Wen order
萃Gathering Together
Cuì · ䷬ · above: Lake ☱ 兌 Duì · below: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn
Collective action and the strength found in unity around a common religious or social center.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
亨。王假有廟，利見大人，亨，利貞。用大牲吉，利有攸往。
In (the state denoted by) Žhui, the king will repair to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man; and then there will be progress and success, though the advantage must come through firm correctness. The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. Zhui indicates (the condition of union, or) being collected. We have in it (the symbol of) docile obedience going on to (what is expressed by that of) satisfaction. There is the strong line in the central place, and rightly responded to. Hence comes the (idea of) union.
2. 'The king will repair to his ancestral temple:'—with the utmost filial piety he presents his offerings (to the spirits of his ancestors).
'It will be advantageous to meet the great man, and there will then be prosperity and success:'—the union effected by him will be on and through what is correct.
'The, use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatsoever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous:'—all is done in accordance with the ordinances of Heaven.
3. When we look at the way in which the gatherings (here shown) take place, the natural tendencies (in the outward action) of heaven and earth and of all things can be seen.
The Image 象
澤上於地，萃；君子以除戎器，戒不虞。
(The trigram representing the) earth and that for the waters of a marsh raised above it form Žhui. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his weapons of war put in good repair, to be prepared against unforeseen contingencies.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
有孚不終，乃亂乃萃，若號一握為笑，勿恤，往無咎。
The first SIX, divided, shows its subject with a sincere desire (for union), but unable to carry it out, so that disorder is brought into the sphere of his union. If he cry out (for help to his proper correlate), all at once (his tears) will give place to smiles. He need not mind (the temporary difficulty); as he goes forward, there will be no error.
Small Image: 'In consequence disorder is brought into the sphere of his union:'—his mind and aim are thrown into confusion.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 17, Following.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
引吉，無咎，孚乃利用禴。
The second SIX, divided, shows its subject led forward (by his correlate). There will be good fortune, and freedom from error. There is entire sincerity, and in that case (even the small offerings of) the vernal sacrifice are acceptable.
Small Image: 'He is led forward; there will be good fortune, and freedom from error:'—(the virtue proper to) his central place has not undergone any change.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 47, Oppression.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
萃如，嗟如，無攸利，往無咎，小吝。
The third SIX, divided, shows its subject striving after union and seeming to sigh, yet nowhere finding any advantage. If he go forward, he will not err, though there may be some small cause for regret.
Small Image: 'If he go forward, he will not err:'—in the subject of the topmost line there is humility and condescension.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 31, Influence.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
大吉，無咎。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject in such a state that, if he be greatly fortunate, he will receive no blame.
Small Image: 'If he be grandly fortunate, he will receive no blame:'—(this condition is necessary, because) his position is not the one proper to him.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 8, Holding Together.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
萃有位，無咎。匪孚，元永貞，悔亡。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows the union (of all) under its subject in the place of dignity. There will be no error. If any do not have confidence in him, let him see to it that (his virtue) be great, long-continued, and firmly correct, and all occasion for repentance will disappear.
Small Image: 'There is the union (of all) under him in the place of dignity:'—(but) his mind and aim have not yet been brilliantly displayed.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 16, Enthusiasm.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
齎咨涕洟，無咎。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject sighing and weeping; but there will be no error.
Small Image: 'He sighs and weeps:'—he does not yet rest in his topmost position.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 12, Standstill.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦26. The Taming Power of the Great 大畜
every line changedInverse 綜卦46. Pushing Upward 升
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.