 | Delay | |
| Upper Trigram: | K'an, the Abyss, Water, Danger | |
| Lower Trigram: | Ch'ien, Creative Principle, Heaven | |
| Governing Ruler: | Nine in the fifth place | |
The Image
The trigram for clouds ascending over that for the sky; these form Hsü. The superior man, in accordance with this, eats and drinks, feasts and enjoys himself, while there is nothing else to employ him.
Miscellaneous Signs
Hsü shows its subject making no advance.
The Judgement
Delay: With sincerity there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
Commentary
Hsü denotes waiting. The hexagram shows peril in front (the upper trigram), but notwithstanding the firmness and strenght (indicated by the inner trigram Ch'ien), its subject does not allow himself to be involved. It is right that he should avoid being straitened or reduced to extremity. When it is said that 'with sincerity there will be brilliant success, and with firmness there will be good fortune', this is shown by the position of the fifth line in the place assigned by heaven, and its being the correct position for it, and in the centre.
'It will be advantageous to cross the great stream'; that is, going forward in time will be followed by meritorious achievement.
Hsü denotes waiting. The hexagram shows peril in front (the upper trigram), but notwithstanding the firmness and strenght (indicated by the inner trigram Ch'ien), its subject does not allow himself to be involved. It is right that he should avoid being straitened or reduced to extremity. When it is said that 'with sincerity there will be brilliant success, and with firmness there will be good fortune', this is shown by the position of the fifth line in the place assigned by heaven, and its being the correct position for it, and in the centre.
'It will be advantageous to cross the great stream'; that is, going forward in time will be followed by meritorious achievement.
The Lines and commentaries
Bottom nine
Showing its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be well for him constantly to maintain the purpose thus shown, in which case there will be no error.
'He is waiting in the distant border': he makes no movement to encounter rashly the difficulties of the situation.
'It will be advantageously for him constantly to maintain the purpose thus shown, in which case there will be no error': he will not fail to pursue that regular course.
Nine in the second placeShowing its subject waiting on the sand. He will suffer the small injury of being spoken against, but in the end there will be good fortune.
'He is waiting on the sand': he occupies his position in the centre with a generous forbearance. Though 'he will suffer a small injury from being spoken against', he will bring things to a good issue.
Nine in the third placeShowing its subject in the mud, close by the stream, thereby inviting the approach of injury.
'He is waiting in the mud, close by the stream': calamity is close at hand, in the outer trigram. 'He himself invites the approach of injury', but if he be reverent and careful, he will not be defeated.
Six in the fourth placeShowing its subject waiting in blood. But he will get out of the cavern.
'He is waiting in blood': he accommodates himself to the circumstances and requirements of the time.
Nine in the fifth placeShowing its subject waiting amidst the appliances of a feast. Through his firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
The 'appliances of a feast and the good fortune through being firm and correct', are indicated by the central and correct place.
Top-most sixShowing its subject entered into the cavern. There are three guests coming to his help, without being urged. If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end.
'Guests are coming to his help, without being urged. If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end': though the occupant and the place are not suited to each other, there has been no great failure.
 1. Ch'ien Creative Principle |  2. K'un Passive Principle |  3. Chun Initial Difficulties |  4. Meng Youthful Inexperience | 5. Hsü Delay |  6. Sung Conflict |  7. Shih The Army |  8. Pi Seeking Unity |  9. Hsiao Ch'u Minor Restraint |  10. Lü Treading carefully |  11. T'ai Peace |  12. P'i Stagnation |  13. T'ung Jen Companionship |  14. Ta Yu Great Possessions |  15. Ch'ien Modesty |  16. Yü Enthusiasm |  17. Sui Allegiance |  18. Ku Arresting Decay |  19. Lin Approaching |  20. Kuan Contemplation |  21. Shih Ho Biting through |  22. Pi Grace |  23. Po Disintegration |  24. Fu The Turning Point |  25. Wu Wang Innocence |  26. Ta Ch'u Restraining Force |  27. I Nourishment |  28. Ta Kuo Excess |  29. K'an The Abyss |  30. Li Clinging Brightness |  31. Hsieh Influence |  32. Heng Endurance |  33. Tun Withdrawal |  34. Ta Chuang Strength of Greatness |  35. Chin Progress |  36. Ming I Sinking Light |  37. Chia Jen The Family |  38. K'uei Opposition |  39. Chien Obstacles |  40. Hsieh Deliverance |  41. Sun Decrease |  42. I Increase |  43. Kuai Resolution |  44. Kou Coming on |  45. Ts'ui Congregation |  46. Sheng Moving upward |  47. K'un Exhaustion |  48. Ching The Well |  49. Ko Revolution |  50. Ting The Cauldron |  51. Chen Thunderclap |  52. Ken Inaction |  53. Chien Gradual Progress |  54. Kuei Mei Marriageable Maiden |  55. Feng Abundance |  56. Lü The Wanderer |  57. Sun Gentle Penetration |  58. Tui Joy |  59. Huan Dispersal |  60. Chien Restraint |  61. Cung Fu Inner Truth |  62. Hsiao Kuo Small Excess |  63. Chi Chi Completion and After |  64. Wei Chi Before Completion |