Water collects into a lake over the earth. Cui is the gathering of people around a shared center, a family, a community, a cause, a ceremony. Such gatherings need a strong leader, shared values and generosity. Where many people and resources come together, conflicts and surprises also arise, so preparation is wise.
Judgment
萃：亨。王假有廟，利見大人，亨，利貞。用大牲吉，利有攸往。
Gathering: success. The king goes to his temple. Favorable to see the great person: success; steadfastness is favorable. Offering large animals: good fortune. Favorable to have somewhere to go.
Image
澤上於地，萃；君子以除戎器，戒不虞。
A lake above the land: gathering. Taking this as a model, the noble one repairs their weapons and stays on guard against the unexpected.
- Community and gathering
- A unifying center
- Shared purpose and ritual
- Generosity
- Preparing for the unexpected
- gathering
- community
- leadership
- ritual
- unity
- preparation
- People gather around a sincere and worthy center.
- Shared rituals and values hold a group together.
- Where many gather, prepare for the unexpected.
The six lines
Lines are numbered from the bottom. In a reading, only the lines that are changing apply to your cast.
Line 1Six at the beginning 初六
Line text
有孚不終，乃亂乃萃，若號，一握為笑，勿恤，往无咎。
Sincere, but not to the end: now confusion, now gathering. If you cry out, one clasp of the hand turns it to laughter. Do not worry. Going on: no blame.
Doubts and confusion make you waver about joining. Call out for help honestly; a single handshake can dispel the doubt.
- Wavering commitment
- Asking for help
- Letting doubt keep you apart
- Relief through reaching out
Line 2Six in the second place 六二
Line text
引吉，无咎，孚乃利用禴。
Drawn in: good fortune, no blame. With sincerity, even a simple spring offering is favorable.
Follow the pull toward the right people. Sincerity matters more than grand gestures; a simple offering is enough.
- Following an inner pull
- Simple sincerity
- Overdoing formalities
- Finding your place naturally
Line 3Six in the third place 六三
Line text
萃如嗟如，无攸利，往无咎，小吝。
Gathering with sighs: nothing is favorable. Going on: no blame, slight regret.
You want to belong but feel shut out. Approach someone closer to the center for help, even if it is a little embarrassing.
- Feeling excluded
- Seeking an intermediary
- Sulking on the outside
- Getting in through a connection
Line 4Nine in the fourth place 九四
Line text
大吉，无咎。
Great good fortune, no blame.
You bring people together for a good cause, not for yourself. Selfless work for the group brings great good fortune.
- Selfless organizing
- Serving the group
- Gathering people for personal gain
- Great success through serving others
Line 5Nine in the fifth place 九五
Line text
萃有位，无咎。匪孚，元永貞，悔亡。
Gathering around one in position: no blame. If some lack trust, supreme, lasting steadfastness makes regret pass.
Position alone doesn't win people's trust. Constant, sincere dedication over time gradually wins over those still hesitant.
- Authority versus trust
- Lasting dedication
- Relying on position alone
- Trust earned through constancy
Line 6Six at the top 上六
Line text
齎咨涕洟，无咎。
Sighing and weeping, tears and snivel: no blame.
Your good intentions are misunderstood and you feel alone. Grief at this is natural; expressed openly, it may lead to reconciliation.
- Sorrow at being misunderstood
- Openness in grief
- Hiding your feelings
- Reconnection through honest emotion
Related hexagrams
Have a question on your mind?
Cast a readingChinese text: Zhouyi 周易 (received classical text). English rendering and notes: Site rendering. About our sources
Commentary
The lake gathers water above the earth. Cui speaks of assemblies of all kinds, from family reunions to social movements. The judgment mentions the king approaching the ancestral temple: gatherings are held together by something greater than individual interests, such as tradition, shared meaning or a worthy leader. The reading may suggest a time to bring people together, or to find where you belong.
The image adds realism: where things accumulate, so does the potential for conflict. Wise people prepare for the unforeseen. The lines show the doubts and uncertainties of joining, and the importance of sincerity. In relation to a question, Cui may emphasize community, leadership, shared purpose and planning ahead.