Hexagram 45. Gathering (萃 Cuì)

Trigrams

Above

☱ Duì (Lake) — 澤 · Open

Below

☷ Kūn (Earth) — 地 · Receptive

Symbolic Meaning

萃 (Cuì) describes gathering—elements coming together into a shared center. It is not mere assembly, but the formation of a unified structure around a focal point.

Lake over earth shows accumulation. What gathers must be ordered, stabilized, and given direction, or it will disperse.

Judgment

Original Chinese:
萃，亨。王假有廟，利見大人，亨，利貞。用大牲吉，利有攸往。
(Cuì, hēng. Wáng jiǎ yǒu miào, lì jiàn dà rén, hēng, lì zhēn. Yòng dà shēng jí, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)

"Gathering. Smooth progress. The governing authority approaches the ancestral temple. It is favorable to engage a person of great capacity. Smooth progress. It is favorable to remain correctly aligned. A full offering brings favorable outcome. It is favorable to move with direction."

This hexagram describes the formation of collective unity around a central point. For gathering to succeed, there must be structure, purpose, and recognized leadership.

The reference to offering indicates commitment. A true gathering requires investment—without it, unity remains superficial. Direction is essential for what has assembled.

Image

Original Chinese:
澤上于地，萃。君子以除戎器，戒不虞。
(Zé shàng yú dì, cuì. Jūn zǐ yǐ chú róng qì, jiè bù yú.)

"The lake rises above the earth: gathering. The superior person sets weapons in order and guards against the unforeseen."

When things gather, they also concentrate risk. A unified structure attracts both support and challenge.

Preparation is required not out of fear, but because concentration creates vulnerability. What gathers must be stabilized and protected.

Line 1

Original Chinese:
有孚不終，乃亂乃萃。若號，一握為笑，勿恤，往無咎。
(Yǒu fú bù zhōng, nǎi luàn nǎi cuì. Ruò hào, yī wò wéi xiào, wù xù, wǎng wú jiù.)

"There is underlying alignment, but it does not endure. Then there is disorder, then gathering. If one calls out, connection forms. Do not worry. Moving forward brings no error."

At the beginning, unity is unstable. The group forms unevenly, and trust is not yet solid.

Clear signaling restores cohesion. Expression creates alignment, and from that, true gathering begins.

Line 2

Original Chinese:
引吉，无咎，孚乃利用禴。
(Yǐn jí, wú jiù, fú nǎi lì yòng yuè.)

"Drawing together brings favorable outcome. No error. With underlying alignment, even a small offering is sufficient."

Here, gathering becomes intentional and guided. What draws others in is not force, but authenticity.

Even modest contributions carry weight when they are genuine. Sincerity is the binding force.

Line 3

Original Chinese:
萃如嗟如，无攸利，往无咎，小吝。
(Cuì rú jiē rú, wú yōu lì, wǎng wú jiù, xiǎo lìn.)

"Gathering with hesitation. No direction is favorable. Moving forward brings no error, but there is a constrained outcome."

The gathering lacks conviction. Participation is reluctant or unclear, weakening the structure.

Although no major error occurs, the lack of commitment limits the outcome.

Line 4

Original Chinese:
大吉无咎。
(Dà jí wú jiù.)

"Strong favorable outcome. No error."

The gathering has stabilized and aligned properly. Structure, leadership, and purpose are all in place.

At this point, unity is effective and produces strong results.

Line 5

Original Chinese:
萃有位，无咎。匪孚，元永貞，悔亡。
(Cuì yǒu wèi, wú jiù. Fěi fú, yuán yǒng zhēn, huǐ wáng.)

"Gathering in a central position. No error. If trust is not yet established, enduring stability means regret resolves."

Leadership exists, but trust may not yet be fully secured. Authority alone is not enough.

Consistency over time builds credibility. Stability resolves doubt.

Line 6

Original Chinese:
齎咨涕洟，无咎。
(Jī zī tì yí, wú jiù.)

"There is weeping and lamenting. No error."

At the end of gathering, emotional release appears. The process has reached its limit or completion.

There is no blame—this reflects the human cost or intensity of what has been brought together.