Hexagram 8
Holding Together
比
Upper
Water · 坎
the abysmal, danger
Lower
Earth · 坤
the receptive, yielding
Contemporary judgment
Holding together. A moment when uniting with the right people, or the right direction, brings good fortune. Those who come early share in the blessing; those who hesitate arrive to find the door closed. Real fellowship rests on sincerity, not on convenience.
Image
Water upon the earth, pooling in the valleys. The ancient kings established countless states and drew their rulers close.
Counsel
Align yourself now with what is true. Do not delay, and do not attach to motives that are not clean. Examine yourself first: are you the kind of person you would want to be joined by? Become that person, and the right company will find you.
The six lines
Numbered from the bottom upward; displayed here from first to sixth.
Line 1
A six at the beginning means: Hold to him truly and faithfully: that is no blame. Truth, like a full earthen bowl: so in the end good fortune comes from without.
Line 2
A six in the second place means: Hold to him inwardly. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 3
A six in the third place means: You hold together with people who are not the right ones.
Line 4
A six in the fourth place means: Hold to him also outwardly. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 5
A nine in the fifth place means: Manifestation of Holding Together. The king drives the game only from three sides and renounces the game that turns aside in front. The citizens need no warning. Good fortune!
Line 6
A six at the top means: He finds no head for Holding Together. Misfortune.
Contemporary sections are original app interpretations. Line text comes from the CC0 translation in jesshewitt/i-ching.