䷬ Gathering cuì
Core Meaning
The Cui hexagram reveals the wisdom of gathering. Gathering people is a significant matter, requiring careful methods. The Cui hexagram emphasizes: gathering must have integrity, 'sincerity not enduring leads to disorder' (lack of lasting integrity inevitably leads to chaos); gathering must have guidance, 'being led is auspicious' (being guided by others can lead to success); gathering must have a position, 'gathering in a position of authority' (only high positions can gather people); gathering must abide by the right path, 'fundamentally and eternally persevering' (long-term adherence to rectitude prevents regret); gathering must anticipate the unexpected, 'cleans their weapons to guard against the unforeseen' (repairing armaments to prevent potential dangers). In modern society, gathering people is common: team building, community operations, organizing events. The Cui hexagram tells us: gathering must be attractive, and virtue and integrity are fundamental; gathering must be organized, requiring the leadership of great people; gathering must have a goal, and only correct direction can last; gathering must be prepared, to prevent possible problems. True gathering is the accumulation of hearts through virtue.
The Judgment
Success. The king approaches the temple. It is beneficial to meet great people. Success. Perseverance is beneficial. Using large animals for sacrifice is auspicious. It is beneficial to have a goal to pursue.
Interpretation:
Success. The king sincerely offers sacrifices in the ancestral temple. It is beneficial to meet great people. Success. Perseverance is beneficial. Offering sacrifices with large animals is auspicious. It is beneficial to have somewhere to go.
The Image
The lake rises above the earth: the image of Gathering. Thus the superior person cleans their weapons to guard against the unforeseen.
Structure
The Cui (Gathering) hexagram has Kun (Earth) below and Dui (Lake) above, forming the image of Lake over Earth. Lake water gathers on the earth, where all things assemble, representing the 'gathering' atmosphere. Cui means to gather, for people to assemble. The lower trigram Kun is yielding, and the upper trigram Dui is joyous, so yielding and joyous, thus able to gather. In the Cui hexagram, the rigid Yang in the fifth place is centered, responding to the Yin in the second place below it, with an upper-lower correspondence, thus able to gather people. Gathering people requires conditions: one must have virtue, as 'the king approaches the temple' (sincere sacrifice); one must have worthies, as 'beneficial to meet great people' (requires leadership); one must abide by the right path, as 'perseverance is beneficial' (correct direction); one must have sincerity, as 'using large animals for sacrifice' (sincere heart brings efficacy). But gathering people also carries risks, as 'cleans their weapons to guard against the unforeseen' (must guard against unexpected events). The Cui hexagram emphasizes: gathering must have a way, gathering must have virtue, gathering must be prepared.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial six: Sincerity not enduring leads to disorder and dispersion. If one's cries or holding hands turn to laughter, no need for worry. Going forth without blame.
Six in the second place: Being led is auspicious, no blame. Sincerity allows for small sacrifices.
Six in the third place: Gathering, yet lamenting. No advantage. Going forth without blame, but a minor regret.
Nine in the fourth place: Great auspiciousness, no blame.
Nine in the fifth place: Gathering in a position of authority, no blame. If not yet trusted, be fundamentally and eternally persevering. Regret vanishes.
Top six: Sighing, weeping, and sniveling, no blame.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
In career, gathering people must be based on virtue and the right way. 'The king approaches the temple' implies a sense of mission and values. 'Beneficial to meet great people' means needing capable leaders. 'Success and beneficial perseverance' means that only with the correct direction can there be success. The initial six requires 'sincerity'; establishing trust is crucial, otherwise 'not enduring leads to disorder' (lack of lasting sincerity will lead to team chaos), and 'if one's cries or holding hands turn to laughter' (resolving conflicts and reconciling). The second six, 'being led is auspicious,' is best, being guided by a great person, and 'sincerity allows for small sacrifices' (even with few resources, success can come through sincerity). The third six, 'gathering, yet lamenting,' means wanting to gather but unable to, 'no advantage' (but 'going forth without blame' means even if difficult, persistence is not blameworthy). The ninth four, 'great auspiciousness, no blame,' is the most auspicious. The ninth five, 'gathering in a position of authority,' means one can gather people from a high position, but 'if not yet trusted' (if complete trust has not been gained), one must be 'fundamentally and eternally persevering.' Remember: gathering people requires virtue, integrity, direction, and leadership.
❤️ Relationships
In relationships, gathering (togetherness) requires sincerity and endurance. 'The king approaches the temple' implies having shared beliefs and values. 'Beneficial to meet great people' means a destined encounter between compatible individuals. 'Perseverance is beneficial' means the relationship must be built on the right path. The initial six, 'sincerity not enduring,' is the most dangerous; starting with sincerity but not persevering means the relationship 'leads to disorder' and will inevitably fall apart. One must 'cry out' (actively communicate) and 'hold hands to laughter' (reconcile). The second six, 'being led is auspicious,' is the best, being introduced by good people, and 'sincerity' (treating each other with genuine affection). The third six, 'gathering, yet lamenting,' means wanting to gather but unable to, 'no advantage' (though there is regret, 'going forth without blame' means continuing to work at it). The ninth four, 'great auspiciousness, no blame,' is the ideal situation. The ninth five, 'gathering in a position of authority,' means having the conditions to gather, but 'if not yet trusted' (if complete trust has not been gained), one must be 'fundamentally and eternally persevering' to eliminate regret. Remember: relationships require sincerity, endurance, and the right path.
🎯 Decision Making
For decisions, gathering people requires thorough preparation. 'Cui, meaning gathering,' implies that gathering people requires wisdom. One must 'approach the temple' (have a common goal), 'beneficial to meet great people' (require a core leader), 'perseverance is beneficial' (correct direction), and 'use large animals for sacrifice' (invest resources to show sincerity). However, one must also 'clean their weapons to guard against the unforeseen'; gathering people involves risks, and prevention is essential. The initial six, 'sincerity not enduring,' is the most taboo; lack of integrity will inevitably lead to chaos; one must persevere to the end. The second six, 'being led is auspicious,' refers to finding the right guide. The third six, 'gathering, yet lamenting,' means wanting to gather but unable to, requiring self-reflection. The ninth four, 'great auspiciousness,' means conditions are met. The ninth five, 'gathering in a position of authority,' entails being in a high position, but one must be 'fundamentally and eternally persevering' to gain trust. The top six, 'sighing, weeping, and sniveling,' while lamenting, is 'without blame.' Remember: gathering must have virtue, a correct way, preparedness, and sincerity.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The biggest warning of the Cui hexagram is gathering without being prepared. 'Cleans their weapons to guard against the unforeseen' is paramount; unexpected events are inevitable when gathering, so prevention is necessary. Be wary of: 'sincerity not enduring' (failing to maintain integrity), gathering without direction (chaos), gathering without leadership (out of control), gathering without prevention (unexpected incidents), and being in a high position without gaining trust. Remember: Cui requires 'the king approaches the temple' (shared values), 'beneficial to meet great people' (wise leadership), 'perseverance is beneficial' (adherence to the right path), and 'cleans their weapons' (prevention of dangers). The initial six, 'disorder and dispersion,' is the most dangerous; failure of enduring integrity inevitably leads to chaos. The ninth five, 'if not yet trusted,' is a warning; having authority but no trust requires 'fundamentally and eternally persevering.' True gathering means: gathering people with virtue, treating people with sincerity, guiding people with rectitude, and ensuring people's safety with preparedness.
Applicable Scenarios
The Gathering hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
King Wen of Zhou gathering worthies is a classic example of the Cui hexagram. King Wen 'approached the temple,' governing with virtue and establishing common values. He 'benefited from meeting great people,' widely recruiting talented individuals, and worthies like Jiang Ziya and San Yisheng gathered around him. He 'succeeded with beneficial perseverance,' always basing his actions on benevolence and righteousness, maintaining the correct direction. He 'used large animals for sacrifice,' treating worthy people graciously and with sincerity. More importantly, he 'cleaned his weapons to guard against the unforeseen,' preparing his military defenses against King Zhou of Shang. He showed 'sincerity' consistently, unlike the initial six's 'sincerity not enduring.' All worthies were 'led auspiciously' by him. The ninth five, 'gathering in a position of authority,' describes King Wen having virtue and position; although 'not yet trusted' by King Zhou, he was 'fundamentally and eternally persevering,' and eventually 'regret vanished.' This is the wisdom of the Cui hexagram: gathering people with virtue, treating people with sincerity, guiding people with rectitude, and ensuring people's safety with preparedness. 'Observe how things gather, and the affections of heaven and earth, and of all things, may be seen through it,' meaning one can discern character from how people gather.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Gathering hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: