Coherence Union [hexagram 8]

Yin line Yang line Yin line Yin line Yin - controlling line Yin line

Concord, assembly

Water over Earth
Water Water element

Fire Heaven
Dà yǒu [14] Profusion; Great harvest
Opposite
Earth Water
Shī [7] Mass action; Multitude
Inverse
Mountain Earth
[23] Dispersion; Peeling off
Mutual

Lunar month: 4 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
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比: . , . , . Bǐ: jí. yuán shì yuán yǒng zhēn, wú jiù. bù níng fāng lái, hòu fū xiōng.

Bi indicates that (under the conditions which it supposes) there is good fortune. But let (the principal party intended in it) re-examine himself, (as if) by divination, whether his virtue be great, unbroken, and firm. If it be so, there will be no error. Those who have not rest will then come to him; and with those who are (too) late in coming it will be ill.

: 比, , 比, 辅, . , , . , . , . Tuàn zhuàn: bǐ, jí yě, bǐ, fǔ yě, xià shùn cóng yě. yuán shì yuán yǒng zhēn, wú jiù, yǐ gāng zhōng yě. bù níng fāng lái, shàng xià yìng yě. hòu fū xiōng, qí dào qióng yě.

‘Bi indicates that there is good fortune:’ - (the name) Bi denotes help; (and we see in the figure) inferiors docilely following (their superior). ‘Let (the principal party intended in it) reexamine himself, (as if) by divination, whether his virtue be great, unbroken, and firm; - if it be so, there will be no error: - all this follows from the position of the strong line in the center (of the upper trigram). ’Those who have not rest will come to him:‘ - high and low will respond to its subject. ’With those who are (too) late in coming it will be ill:‘ - (for them) the way (of good fortune here indicated) has been exhausted.

: , 比; , . Xiàng zhuàn: Dì shang yǒu shuǐ, bǐ; xiān wáng yǐ jiàn wàn guó, qīn zhū hóu.

(The trigram representing) the earth, and over it (that representing) water, form Bi. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, established the various states and maintained an affectionate relation to their princes.

young yin young yang young yin young yin young yin changing yin
I Ching transform
Water
Thunder
Zhūn [3] Inhibition; Beginning
Change
: , 比, . 盈缶, . Chū liù: yǒu fú, bǐ zhī, wú jiù. yǒu fú yíng fǒu, zhōng lái yǒu tā jí.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows its subject seeking by his sincerity to win the attachment of his object. There will be no error. Let (the breast) be full of sincerity as an earthenware vessel is of its contents, and it will in the end bring other advantages.

: 比, . Xiàng zhuàn: Bǐ zhī chū liù, yǒu tā jí yě.

From ‘the seeking union with its object’ shown in the first ‘six’, (divided),there will be other advantages.

young yin young yang young yin young yin changing yin young yin
I Ching transform
Water
Water
Kǎn [29] Flow; Darkness
Change
: 比, . Liù èr: bǐ zhī zì nèi, zhēn jí.

In the second ‘six’, divided, we see the movement towards union and attachment proceeding from the inward (mind). With firm correctness there will be good fortune.

: 比, . Xiàng zhuàn: Bǐ zhī zì nèi, bù zì shī yě.

‘The movement towards union and attachment proceeds from the inward (mind):’ - (the party concerned) does not fail in what is proper to himself.

young yin young yang young yin changing yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Water
Mountain
Jiǎn [39] Obstruction; Hardship
Change
: 比. Liù sān: bǐ zhī fěi rén.

In the third ‘six’, divided, we see its subject seeking for union with such as ought not to be associated with.

: 比, ! Xiàng zhuàn: Bǐ zhī fěi rén, bù yì shāng hū!

‘Union is sought with such as ought not to be associated with:’ - but will not injury be the result?

young yin young yang changing yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Lake
Earth
Cuì [45] Condensation; Gathering
Change
: , . Liù sì: wài bǐ zhī, zhēn jí.

In the fourth ‘six’, divided, we see its subject seeking for union with the one beyond himself. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.

: 贤, . Xiàng zhuàn: Wài bǐ yú xián, yǐ cóng shǎng yě.

‘Union is sought (by the party intended here) with one beyond himself, and (in this case) with a worthy object:’ - he is following (the ruler) above him.

young yin changing yang young yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Earth
Kūn [2] Receptor; Responding
Change
: 显比, 驱, 禽. 诫, . Jiǔ wǔ: xiǎn bǐ, wáng yòng sān qū, shī qián qín. yì rén bù jiè, jí.

The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, affords the most illustrious instance of seeking union and attachment. (We seem to see in it) the king urging his pursuit of the game (only) in three directions, and allowing the escape of all the animals before him, while the people of his towns do not warn one another (to prevent it). There will be good fortune.

: 显比, . , . 诫, 使. Xiàng zhuàn: Xiǎn bǐ zhī jí, wèi zhèng zhōng yě. shè nì qǔ shùn, shī qián qín yě. yì rén bù jiè, shǎng shǐ zhōng yě.

‘The good fortune belonging to the most illustrious instance of seeking union and attachment’ appears in the correct and central position (of the fifth line, undivided). (The king‘s) neglecting (the animals) confronting him (and then fleeing), and (only) taking those who present themselves as it were obediently, is seen in his allowing the escape of those in front of him.’ ‘That the people of his towns do not warn one another (to prevent such escape),’ shows how he, in his high eminence, has made them pursue the due course.

changing yin young yang young yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Wind/Wood
Earth
Guān [20] Vision; Contemplation
Change
: 比, . Shǎng liù: bǐ zhī wú shǒu, xiōng.

In the topmost ‘six’, divided, we see one seeking union and attachment without having taken the first step (to such an end). There will be evil.

: 比, . Xiàng zhuàn: Bǐ zhī wú shǒu, wú suǒ zhōng yě.

‘He seeks union and attachment without taking the first (step to such an end):’ - there is no possibility of a (good) issue.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also