Hexagram 44, Gòu (Coming to Meet): Line 6 (top)

姤卦上九 · 天风姤 · 中文版

上九:姤其角,吝,无咎。

The line (Legge)

The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject receiving others on his horns. There will be occasion for regret, but there will be no error.

Small Image commentary

'He receives others on his horns:' - he is exhausted at his greatest height, and there will be cause for regret.

象曰:姤其角,上穷吝也。

In plain words

Meeting with its horns: regret, but no fault. The top line is strong at the very top, proud and aloof, butting everything it meets. The Small Image says at the top it has come to its limit, hence regret.

Applying it to your situation

If you meet people with sharp edges, this line suggests it makes you hard to approach. Have your edges driven away someone who matters?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the top place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is not in its proper place. Its partner is line 3; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Gòu changes into Hexagram 28 Dà Guò (Great Exceeding). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·姤之大过.

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.

Previous: Line 5

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.

Cast a hexagram · All 64 hexagrams · Worked examples