Hexagram 9 of 64
小畜 Xiǎo Xù · Small Taming
上 巽 Wind (Xùn) over 下 乾 Heaven (Qián)
Gather first; do not spend in haste.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: wind across the sky.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Xiǎo Xù is wind moving across the high sky; the wind can hold back a stray cloud for a moment, but cannot restrain the expanse of heaven. What is accumulated is modest in measure. Xiǎo Xù speaks of how little you can gather right now; do not rush to disperse it. Let it thicken first; if spent while still thin, a single use consumes it entirely.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Returning to one's own path; how could there be blame? Good fortune.” On returning to the proper path one ought to follow, what blame, meaning fault, could there be? This therefore brings good fortune, an auspicious outcome. At the beginning of Xiǎo Chù, progress is obstructed; returning along the proper path leaves no fault.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Returning along one’s path: in principle, good fortune.” Returning to follow the proper path brings good fortune in principle. Initial nine lies at the very bottom of the lower trigram and answers to six in the fourth, which does not bar it; it returns to its own proper path, which accords with its own way.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Drawn to return; good fortune.” Linked with companions, one returns together to the proper path, bringing good fortune, an auspicious outcome. The second yang line of Xiǎo Chù describes returning together rather than alone: those sharing the same path remain connected and retreat together when obstructed.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Led to return while centered: one does not lose oneself.” Being drawn back together while holding the central position of the lower trigram ensures one does not lose oneself. Nine in the second place is firm and centered, linked with initial nine; they return to the proper way together, preserving the proper center.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Spokes detach from the carriage wheel; husband and wife turn against each other.” The wheel's spokes come loose, preventing the carriage from moving properly; husband and wife turn against each other and lose harmony. The character shuō is read as tuō, meaning to come off. The broken carriage and marital discord portray two sides that constrain each other but cannot work together.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Husband and wife turn away: unable to regulate the home.” Spouses turn against each other because the household cannot be kept upright. Nine in the third is yang and uncentered, restrained by adjacent yin of six in the fourth; the text likens this to marital discord.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Possessing sincerity, bloodshed departs and apprehension vanishes; no blame.” Fú means sincerity. Xuè refers to harm, and tì to anxiety and fear. Acting with sincerity lets harm recede and fear be left behind, bringing no blame: no fault or cause for reproach. The fourth line is Xiǎo Chù's only yin line, with a yielding line in a yielding position among yang lines. Another reading takes xuè as xù, also meaning worry.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Possessing sincerity. Apprehension departs. Above, wills unite.” Cherishing sincerity in one's heart allows anxiety and dread to disperse, because one's will unites with the ruler, nine in the fifth place above. Six in the fourth occupies its position with yielding virtue and serves the superior with sincere devotion; working together in harmony, they dispel fear and danger.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Possessing sincerity closely bound; rich through one's neighbors.” Fú means sincerity, through which people are closely connected. Luán rú describes a bond that holds them together; fù yǐ qí lín means that prosperity extends to neighbors too. The fifth yang line portrays prosperity shared through sincere ties, with neighbors benefiting together rather than one person enjoying wealth alone.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Possessing sincerity, tightly linked: not being wealthy alone.” Cherishing supreme sincerity and being tightly linked indicates that nine in the fifth place does not hoard honor and wealth for itself, but shares fruits with neighboring companions. Firm and occupying the honored position, nine in the fifth unites high and low with sincerity, benefiting neighbors so that blessings spread without selfishness.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“The rain has fallen, resting has come; virtue is laden full. The woman's steadfastness is dangerous. The moon is almost full; if the noble person sets out on an expedition, misfortune.” Rain has fallen and both sides have settled, as a result of honoring yielding virtue and accumulating it to fullness. Even with steadfastness in what is right, the woman faces danger. The nearly full moon symbolizes yin's yielding power at its height. For a person of virtue, further advance brings misfortune, danger and an unfavorable outcome. Xiǎo Chù is complete, but excess still needs guarding against.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Already rained, already rested: virtue is accumulated to fullness. The noble person’s advance brings misfortune: there is doubt.” Rain has fallen and stopped, meaning virtue has accumulated to fullness. For the noble person to advance now brings misfortune due to suspicion. Ancient commentaries mostly explain this suspicion as yin qi having grown strong and standing in mutual suspicion with yang.
Zhouyi, hexagram 9, line 12. Koyonari translation.