Hexagram 5, Xū (Waiting): Line 5

需卦九五 · 水天需 · 中文版

九五:需于酒食,贞吉。

The line (Legge)

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

Small Image commentary

'The appliances of a feast, and the good fortune through being firm and correct,' are indicated by (the position in) the central and correct place.

象曰:酒食贞吉,以中正也。

In plain words

Waiting with wine and food; steadiness brings good fortune. The fifth line holds the place of honour, central and correct, and is the ruler of the hexagram. While the time is not yet right, it eats and drinks in peace, gathers its strength, and waits steadily. The Small Image says this is because it is central and correct.

Applying it to your situation

If everything is ready and only the timing is missing, this line suggests looking after body and mind and waiting calmly. How can you eat well, sleep well and keep your mind settled now?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the fifth place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is in its proper place. It holds the centre of the upper trigram. Its partner is line 2; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Xū changes into Hexagram 11 Tài (Peace). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·需之泰.

The hexagram

Hexagram 5 Xū (Waiting). The Judgment: Xu 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.

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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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