萃 Cuì Bringing together (Gathering) [hexagram 45]
Lake over Earth
Metal element
Lunar month: 8 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
萃: 亨. 王假有庙, 利见大人, 亨, 利贞. 用大牲吉, 利有攸往. Cuì: hēng. wáng jiǎ yǒu miào, lì jiàn dà ren, hēng, lì zhēn. yòng dà shēng jí, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.
In (the state denoted by) Cui, the king will repair to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man; and then there will be progress and success, though the advantage must come through firm correctness. The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous.
彖传: 萃, 聚也; 顺以说, 刚中而应, 故聚也. 王假有庙, 致孝享也. 利见大人亨, 聚以正也. 用大牲吉, 利有攸往, 顺天命也. 观其所聚, 而天地万物之情可见矣. Tuàn zhuàn: Cuì, jù yě; shùn yǐ shuō, gāng zhōng ér yīng, gù jù yě. wáng jiǎ yǒu miào, zhì xiào xiǎng yě. lì jiàn dà ren hēng, jù yǐ zhèng yě. yòng dà shēng jí, lì yǒu yōu wǎng, shùn tiān mìng yě. guān qí suǒ jù, ér tiān dì wàn wù zhī qíng kě jiàn yǐ.Cui indicates (the condition of union, or) being collected. We have in it (the symbol of) docile obedience going on to (what is expressed by that of) satisfaction. There is the strong line in the central place, and rightly responded to. Hence comes the (idea of) union. ‘The king will repair to his ancestral temple:’ - with the utmost filial piety he presents his offerings (to the spirits of his ancestors). ‘It will be advantageous to meet the great man, and there will then be prosperity and success:’ - the union effected by him will be on and through what is correct. ‘The, use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatsoever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous:’ - all is done in accordance with the ordinances of Heaven. When we look at the way in which the gatherings (here shown) take place, the natural tendencies (in the outward action) of heaven and earth and of all things can be seen.
象传: 泽上于地, 萃; 君子以除戎器, 戒不虞. Xiàng zhuàn: Zé shàng yú dì, cuì; jūn zǐ yǐ chú róng qì, jiè bù yú.(The trigram representing the) earth and that for the waters of a marsh raised above it form Cui. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his weapons of war put in good repair, to be prepared against unforeseen contingencies.
初六: 有孚不终, 乃乱乃萃, 若号一握为笑, 勿恤, 往无咎. Chū liù: yǒu fú bù zhōng, nǎi luàn nǎi cuì, ruò hào yī wò wéi xiào, wù xù, wǎng wú jiù.
The first ‘six’, divided, shows its subject with a sincere desire (for union), but unable to carry it out, so that disorder is brought into the sphere of his union. If he cry out (for help to his proper correlate), all at once (his tears) will give place to smiles. He need not mind (the temporary difficulty); as he goes forward, there will be no error.
象传: 乃乱乃萃, 其志乱也. Xiàng zhuàn: Nǎi luànnǎi cuì, qí zhì luàn yě.‘In consequence disorder is brought into the sphere of his union:’ - his mind and aim are thrown into confusion.
六二: 引吉, 无咎, 孚乃利用禴. Liù èr: yǐn jí, wú jiù, fú nǎi lì yòng yuè.
The second ‘six’, divided, shows its subject led forward (by his correlate). There will be good fortune, and freedom from error. There is entire sincerity, and in that case (even the small offerings of) the vernal sacrifice are acceptable.
象传: 引吉无咎, 中未变也. Xiàng zhuàn: Yǐn jí wú jiù, zhōng wèi biàn yě.‘He is led forward; there will be good fortune, and freedom from error:’ - (the virtue proper to) his central place has not undergone any change.
六三: 萃如, 嗟如, 无攸利, 往无咎, 小吝. Liù sān: cuì rú, jiē rú, wú yōu lì, wǎng wú jiù, xiǎo lìn.The third ‘six’, divided, shows its subject striving after union and seeming to sigh, yet nowhere finding any advantage. If he go forward, he will not err, though there may be some small cause for regret.
象传: 往无咎, 上巽也. Xiàng zhuàn: Wǎng wú jiù, shàng xùn yě.‘If he go forward, he will not err:’ - in the subject of the topmost line there is humility and condescension.
九四: 大吉, 无咎. Jiǔ sì: dà jí, wú jiù.
The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject in such a state that, if he be greatly fortunate, he will receive no blame.
象传: 大吉无咎, 位不当也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dà jí wú jiù, wèi bù dàng yě.‘If he be grandly fortunate, he will receive no blame:’ - (this condition is necessary, because) his position is not the one proper to him.
九五: 萃有位, 无咎. 匪孚, 元永贞, 悔亡. Jiǔ wǔ: cuì yǒu wèi, wú jiù. fěi fú, yuán yǒng zhēn, huǐ wáng.The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows the union (of all) under its subject in the place of dignity. There will be no error. If any do not have confidence in him, let him see to it that (his virtue) be great, long-continued, and firmly correct, and all occasion for repentance will disappear.
象传: 萃有位, 志未光也. Xiàng zhuàn: Cuì yǒu wèi, zhì wèi guāng yě.‘There is the union (of all) under him in the place of dignity:’ - (but) his mind and aim have not yet been brilliantly displayed.
上六: 赍咨涕洟, 无咎. Shàng liù: jī zī tì tì, wú jiù.The topmost ‘six’, divided, shows its subject sighing and weeping; but there will be no error.
象传: 赍咨涕洟, 未安上也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jī zī tì tì, wèi ān shàng yě.‘He sighs and weeps:’ - he does not yet rest in his topmost position.