Hexagram 44: Coming to Meet
Encounter, temptation
| Chinese | 姤 (Gòu) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☰ Heaven — The Creative (Metal) |
| Lower trigram | ☴ Wind — The Gentle (Wood) |
| Keywords | encounter, temptation, caution, awareness |
| Opposite | Hexagram 24: Return |
| Inverted | Hexagram 43: Breakthrough |
What does Hexagram 44 (Coming to Meet) mean?
Coming to Meet 姤 (Gòu) is hexagram 44 of the I Ching, formed by Heaven (The Creative) over Wind (The Gentle). Its theme is encounter, temptation, with key ideas of encounter, temptation, caution, awareness. The Judgment reads: “Coming to Meet. The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden.”
The Judgment of Coming to Meet
Coming to Meet. The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden.
The Image of Coming to Meet
Under heaven, wind.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 44
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Six at the beginning
“It must be checked with a brake of bronze. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune. Even a lean pig has it in him to rage around.”
The first encounter with the encroaching inferior influence must be firmly checked immediately. Even something apparently weak contains disruptive energy if left unchecked.
Nine in the second place
“There is a fish in the tank. No blame. Does not further guests.”
The inferior element is contained for now — kept where it can be managed. It need not be eliminated, but it must not be allowed to influence those above.
Nine in the third place
“There is no skin on his thighs, and walking comes hard. If one is mindful of the danger, no great mistake is made.”
Proceeding in a compromised state is difficult; but clear awareness of the danger prevents the situation from becoming catastrophic.
Nine in the fourth place
“No fish in the tank. This leads to misfortune.”
Failure to contain the inferior element — allowing it to escape the controlled space — brings inevitable trouble.
Nine in the fifth place
“A melon covered with willow leaves. Hidden lines. Then it drops down to one from heaven.”
Something genuinely valuable ripening quietly, wrapped in humble covering. When the time is right it falls of itself; the gift does not need to be forced.
Nine at the top
“He comes to meet with his horns. Humiliation. No blame.”
Confronting the encounter with aggressive resistance brings only embarrassment — the moment has passed for effective opposition. Yet the intent itself carries no fault.
Will Coming to Meet answer your question?
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