Yijing CompassI Ching reading
All hexagrams

Hexagram 44 · King Wen sequence

Sudden Encounter

姤 · gòu

Modern reflection

A sudden encounter may be powerful; meet it with boundaries.

Lower trigram: 巽 Wind
Upper trigram: 乾 Heaven

Historical source

Kâu shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry (such) a female.

(The trigram representing) wind and that for the sky above it form Kâu. The sovereign, in accordance with this, delivers his charges, and promulgates his announcements throughout the four quarters (of the kingdom).

James Legge, 1882, public domain. Historical wording is shown for source transparency, not as a guaranteed prediction.

Changing-line passages

  1. Line 1The first SIX, 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 to keep jumping about.
  2. Line 2The second NINE, 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.
  3. Line 3The third NINE, 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.
  4. Line 4The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject with his wallet, but no fish in it. This will give rise to evil.
  5. Line 5The fifth NINE, 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.
  6. Line 6The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject receiving others on his horns. There will be occasion for regret, but there will be no error.

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