Xiǎo xù Taming Small accumulation [hexagram 9]

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

Moderation
Wind over
Heaven
Wood Wood element

Wood Earth
[16] Inspiration; Delight
Opposite
Heaven Lake
[10] Slow advance; Fulfillment
Inverse
Fire Lake
Kuí [38] Opposition; Diversity
Mutual

Lunar month: 4 ; Host or Controlling line : 4
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: . 密, 西. Xiǎo xù: hēng. Mì yún bù yǔ, zì wǒ xī jiāo.

Xiao Xu indicates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and success. (We see) dense clouds, but no rain coming from our borders in the west.

: ; , , . , , . 密, . 西, . Tuàn zhuàn: Xiǎo xù; róu de wèi, ér shàng xià yīng zhī, yuēxiǎo xù. Jiàn ér xùn, gāng zhōng ér zhì xíng, nǎi hēng. Mì yún bù yù, shàng wǎng yě. Zì wǒ xī jiāo, shī wèi xíng yě.

In Xiao Xu the weak line occupies its (proper) position, and (the lines) above and below respond to it. Hence comes the name of Xiao Xu (Small Restraint). (It presents the symbols of) strength and flexibility. Strong lines are in the central places, and the will (of their subjects) will have free course. Thus it indicates that there will be progress and success. ‘Dense clouds but no rain’ indicate the movement (of the strong lines) still going forward. The ‘Commencing at our western border’ indicates that the (beneficial) influence has not yet been widely displayed.

: , ; . Xiàng zhuàn: Fēng xíng tiān shàng, xiǎo xù; jūn zǐ yǐ yì wén dé.

(The trigram representing) the sky, and that representing wind moving above it, form Xiao Xu The superior man, in accordance with this, adorns the outward manifestation of his virtue.

young yang young yang young yin young yang young yang changing yang
I Ching transform
Wind
Wind
Xùn [57] Acquiescence; Submission
Change
: 复, , . Chū jiǔ: fù zì dào, hé qí jiù, jí.

The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject returning and pursuing his own course. What mistake should he fall into? There will be good fortune.

: 复, . Xiàng zhuàn: Fù zì dào, qí yì jí yě.

‘He returns and pursues his own path:’ - it is right that there should be good fortune.

young yang young yang young yin young yang changing yang young yang
I Ching transform
Wind
Fire
Jiā rén [37] Relationship; Domesticity
Change
: 牵复, . Jiǔ èr: qiān fù, jí.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject, by the attraction (of the former line), returning (to the proper course). There will be good fortune.

: 牵复, . Xiàng zhuàn: Qiān fù zài zhōng, yì bù zì shī yě.

‘By the attraction (of the subject of the former line) he returns (to its own course),’ and is in the central place: - neither will he err in what is due from him.

young yang young yang young yin changing yang young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Wind
Lake
Zhōng fú [61] Truth; Sincerity
Change
: 舆辐, . Jiǔ sān: yú shuō fú, fū qī fǎn mù.

The third ‘nine’, undivided, suggests the idea of a carriage, the strap beneath which has been removed, or of a husband and wife looking on each other with averted eyes.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Fū qī fǎn mù, bù néng zhèng shì yě

‘Husband and wife look on each other with averted eyes:’ - (the subject of line three is like a husband who) cannot maintain correctly his relations with his wife.

young yang young yang changing yin young yang young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Heaven
Heaven
Qián [1] Donator; Initiating
Change
: , 血, . Liù sì: yǒu fú, xuè qù tì chū, wú jiù.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity. The danger of bloodshed is thereby averted, and his (ground for) apprehension dismissed. There will be no mistake.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Yǒu fú tì chū, shàng hé zhì yě.

‘He is possessed of sincerity; his (ground for) apprehension is dismissed:’ - (the subjects of the lines) above agree in aim with him.

young yang changing yang young yin young yang young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Mountain
Heaven
Dà xù [26] Impeded; Great nourishment
Change
: , . Jiǔ wǔ: yǒu fú luán rú, fù yǐ qí lín.

The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity, and drawing others to unite with him. Rich in resources, he employs his neighbors (in the same cause with himself).

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Yǒu fú luán rú, bù dú fù yě.

‘He is possessed of sincerity, and draws others to unite with him:’ - he does not use only his own rich resources.

changing yang young yang young yin young yang young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Water
Heaven
[5] Halting; Needing
Change
: , , . 望, . Shàng jiǔ: jì yù jì chù, shàng dé zài, fù zhēn lì. Yuè jǐ wàng, jūn zǐ zhēng xiōng.

The topmost ‘nine’, undivided, shows how the rain has fallen, and the (onward progress) is stayed - (so) must we value the full accumulation of the virtue (represented by the upper trigram). But a wife (exercising restraint), however firm and correct she may be, is in a position of peril, (and like) the moon approaching to the full. If the superior man prosecute his measures (in such circumstances), there will be evil.

: , . , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jì yùjì chù, dé jī zài yě. Jūn zǐ zhēng xiōng, yǒu suǒ yí yě.

‘The rain has fallen and (the onward progress) is stayed:’ - the power (denoted in the figure) has accumulated to the full. ‘If the superior man prosecute his measures, there will be evil:’ - he will find himself obstructed.

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