Hexagram 5: Waiting (Hsü) / Xū (需) | I Ching Meaning

Line 06

Top Six

Entering the cave. Three uninvited guests arrive. Respect them, and in the end there is good fortune.

Corresponds to line 3

Commentary

The uninvited guests arrive. Respect them, and in the end there is good fortune. Though not in the proper place, there is no great loss.

Line 05

Nine in the Fifth

Waiting amid wine and food. Perseverance brings good fortune.

Central Corresponds to line 2

Commentary

Wine and food, with the good fortune of perseverance, come from center and correctness.

Line 04

Six in the Fourth

Waiting in blood. Coming out from the cave.

Corresponds to line 1

Commentary

Waiting in blood means yielding and listening.

Line 03

Nine in the Third

Waiting in the mud brings bandits.

Corresponds to line 6

Commentary

Waiting in the mud means disaster is outside. Bringing bandits on oneself: with reverence and caution, there is no defeat.

Line 02

Nine in the Second

Waiting on the sand. There is a little talk. In the end, good fortune.

Central Corresponds to line 5

Commentary

Waiting on the sand means the movement stays in the center. Though there is a little talk, it ends in good fortune.

Line 01

Initial Nine

Waiting in the outskirts. Favorable to remain enduring. No blame.

Corresponds to line 4

Commentary

Waiting in the outskirts means not venturing into difficulty. Favorable to remain enduring, with no blame: this is not losing the usual course.

Hexagram 5: Waiting

Judgment

Image

Lines

Line 06

Line 05

Line 04

Line 03

Line 02

Line 01

Trigrams

K'an

Ch'ien

Correspondences

Hexagram 5: Waiting

Judgment

Image

Lines

Line 06

Line 05

Line 04

Line 03

Line 02

Line 01

Trigrams

K'an

Ch'ien

Related hexagrams

Correspondences