Hexagram 45 of 64
萃 Cuì · Gathering Together
上 兌 Lake (Duì) over 下 坤 Earth (Kūn)
Gather what is scattered.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: a lake above the earth.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Cuì is lake above the earth: waters gathering together in one place. Cuì speaks of gathering: bring scattered people, tasks, and thoughts into one place first; only when grouped together does it become clear which are actually the same thing. Do not rush to deal with them today; gather first. Once gathered, resolution moves much faster.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Sincerity not sustained leads to confusion and gathering. If one cries out, a small group laughs at one. Do not worry; advancing brings no blame.” At the beginning of gathering, there is sincerity, or fú, but it does not last. Intentions become confused, and the person joins the crowd. If someone calls out to seek fellowship, even mockery from a small group need not cause worry: it is still possible to go and join those who correspond to them. ‘No blame’ means no fault and no grounds for reproach.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Now disordered, now gathering: the aspiration is in disorder.” The line statement speaking of being both disordered and seeking to gather refers to initial six at the beginning of the hexagram, whose intent wavers in confusion between surrounding companions and its distant proper correlate, falling into a bewildered state of both disorder and gathering.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Led along brings good fortune: no blame. With sincerity, favorable to offer the modest Yue sacrifice.” Being drawn into fellowship with someone who corresponds to oneself can bring good fortune, meaning a favorable outcome, and ‘no blame,’ meaning no fault. Fú means inward sincerity. With sincerity, even a yuè rite, with its modest offerings, is fitting. Both gathering and sacrifice place the emphasis on sincere intent.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Drawn, there is good fortune and no blame: the center has not changed.” Attaining good fortune and staying blameless by being drawn to gather occurs because six in the second place holds the center of the lower trigram and maintains its yielding, central, and upright role; this virtue of dwelling in the center has not altered.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Gathering and sighing: nothing is favorable. Advancing brings no blame, only slight regret.” The wish to gather with others is difficult to fulfill, leaving only sighs; nothing is favorable at present. Continuing to seek fellowship can still bring ‘no blame,’ meaning no fault. There will, however, be ‘slight humiliation,’ meaning a little embarrassment.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Going brings no blame: what is above is yielding.” The line statement saying that going forward brings no blame is because what is above is compliant (Xùn); six in the third place attaches itself upward and thereby avoids blame.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Great good fortune. No blame.” Nine in the fourth place can gather people, but occupies an unsuitable position. Only by managing the gathering thoroughly well and achieving ‘great good fortune,’ a highly favorable outcome, can it bring ‘no blame,’ meaning no fault. This is a requirement for whoever gathers people: having followers alone does not mean everything is in order.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Great good fortune brings no blame: the position is not appropriate.” The line statement saying that only great good fortune brings freedom from blame is because nine in the fourth place is a yang line occupying a yin seat, an inappropriate position, and sits near the sovereign while assembling the masses below; only great good fortune allows it to avoid blame.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Gathering in high position: no blame. If trust is lacking, supreme and eternal perseverance makes remorse disappear.” Gathering people from a suitable position can bring ‘no blame,’ meaning no fault. If some remain unconvinced, goodness must be the foundation, and the right way must be upheld over the long term. This is the meaning of yuán yǒng zhēn. Only then will ‘regret,’ the feeling of remorse, disappear.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Gathering with position: the aspiration is not yet glorious.” Although nine in the fifth place occupies the honored seat of gathering all under heaven, its aspiration has not yet become glorious and bright.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Lamenting with sighs and weeping tears: no blame.” At the end of gathering, the search for fellowship fails. In sorrow and sighing, tears and nasal mucus flow together. Jī zī means lamenting, while tì yí refers to tears and nasal mucus. Despite such grief, the line still says ‘no blame,’ meaning no fault and no grounds for reproach.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Lamenting and weeping tears and snivel: one is not yet secure at the top.” Sighing, weeping, and shedding tears occurs because top six sits at the very summit of Cuì, isolated without a response, and inwardly unsettled in its high position.
Zhouyi, hexagram 45, line 12. Koyonari translation.