Hexagram 44, Gòu (Coming to Meet): Line 2

姤卦九二 · 天风姤 · 中文版

九二:包有鱼,无咎,不利宾。

The line (Legge)

The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject with a wallet of fish. There will be no error. But it will not be well to let (the subject of the first line) go forward to the guests.

Small Image commentary

'He has a wallet of fish:' - it is right for him not to allow (the subject of the first line) to get to the guests.

象曰:包有鱼,义不及宾也。

In plain words

There is fish in the kitchen: no fault, but it is not favourable to serve it to guests. The fish, a yin creature, stands for the first line. The second line meets the first line first and keeps it under control, not letting it affect others. The Small Image says by what is right it should not reach the guests.

Applying it to your situation

If a problem lands in your hands first, this line suggests containing it rather than letting it spread. What issue could you keep and deal with yourself?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the second place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is not in its proper place. It holds the centre of the lower trigram. Its partner is line 5; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Gòu changes into Hexagram 33 Dùn (Retreat). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·姤之遁.

The hexagram

Hexagram 44 Gòu (Coming to Meet). The Judgment: Gou shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry (such) a female.

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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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