Hexagram 44 · 姤 · gòu
Hexagram 44. Gòu · Coming to Meet
☰☴ Heaven over wind: Qián above, Xùn below.
Kiu shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry (such) a female.
Kiu shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry (such) a female.
Beneath five strong lines one weak line has crept in — the unnoticed beginning of decay. Something small and charming asks to be let inside: a temptation, a compromise, a 'harmless' concession. While small it is easily stopped; admitted, it will master everything. Use the encounter, but yield it no power.
The Image
Beneath five strong lines one yielding line has appeared: into the well-ordered has crept the germ of decay — charming, small, 'harmless'. The classic plot: an unnoticed compromise, a grey payment, a person of easy principles. While small it is simple to stop; rooted, it will master everything. Use the encounter; grant it no influence.
Interpretation of hexagram 44
XLIV. The Kau H EXAGRAM. the enterprise is too early, and the preparation too small to make victory certain. Its subject had better not take the field.
The lines of hexagram 44
First line
The first line, divided, shows how its subject should be kept (like a carriage) tied and fastened to a metal drag, in which case with firm correctness there will be good fortune. (But) if he move in any direction, evil will appear. He will be (like) a lean pig, which is sure t® keep jumping about.
Line 2 is strong, and central, and its subject is possessed with the determination to do his part in the work of removal. But his eagerness is tempered by his occupancy of an even place ; and he is cautious, and no attempts, however artful, to harm him will take effect.
Second line
The second line, 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.
Line 3 is strong, and its subject displays his purpose too eagerly. Being beyond the central position, moreover, gives an indication of evil. Lines 3 and 6 are also proper correlates; and, as elsewhere in the Yi, the meeting of yin and yang lines is associated with falling rain. The subject of 3, therefore, communicates with 6, in a way that annoys his associates ; but nevertheless he commits no error, and, in the end, incurs no blame.
Third line
The third line, undivided, shows one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped so that he walks with difficulty. The position is perilous, but there will be no great error.
Line 4 is not in the centre, nor in an odd place, appropriate to it as undivided. Its subject therefore will not be at rest, nor able to do anything to accomplish the idea of the hexagram. He is sym¬ bolised by a culprit, who, according to the ancient and modern custom of Chinese courts, has been bastinadoed till he presents the appearance in the Text. Alone he can do nothing; if he could follow others, like a sheep led along, he might accomplish some¬ thing, but he will not listen to advice.
Fourth line
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject with his wallet, but no fish in it. This will give rise to evil.
Purslain grows in shady places, and hence we find it here in close contiguity to the topmost line, which is yin. As 5 is the ruler’s seat, evil may come to him from such contiguity, and strenuous efforts must be made to prevent such an evil. The subject of the line, the ruler in the central place, will commit no error. It must be allowed that the symbolism in this line is not easily managed.
Fifth line
The fifth line, undivided, (shows its subject as) a medlar tree overspreading the gourd (beneath it). If he keep his brilliant qualities concealed, (a good issue) will descend (as) from Heaven.
The subject of the 6th line, standing alone, may be easily dis¬ posed of.
Top line
The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject receiving others on his horns. There will be occa¬ sion for regret, but there will be no error.
THE KAU HEXAGRAM.
Did hexagram 44 come up in your reading? The oracle itself gives the full reading, with changing lines and the second hexagram.
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