Home › I Ching · 64 hexagrams › Hexagram 17
James Legge, 1899 (public domain)
Sui indicates that (under its conditions) there will be great progress and success. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. There will (then) be no error.
Sui — a lake resting above thunder — is the hexagram of following. The oracle promises great progress and success to those who choose well whom they follow: cleave to what is firm and correct, and there will be no error. Follow the little boy and you let go the man of age and experience; follow the man of age and experience, and such following gets what it seeks. To be followed has its peril: one who gains adherents and wavers meets evil, yet sincerity made evident leaves no room for blame. The ruler sincere in fostering all that is excellent fares well; and sincerity bound fast, like the king's offerings on the western mountain, ends in good fortune.
Line 1
The first line, undivided, shows us one changing the object of his pursuit; but if he be firm and correct, there will be good fortune. Going beyond (his own) gate to find associates, he will achieve merit.
Line 2
The second line, divided, shows us one who cleaves to the little boy, and lets go the man of age and experience.
Line 3
The third line, divided, shows us one who cleaves to the man of age and experience, and lets go the little boy. Such following will get what it seeks; but it will be advantageous to adhere to what is firm and correct.
Line 4
The fourth line, undivided, shows us one followed and obtaining (adherents). Though he be firm and correct, there will be evil. If he be sincere (however) in his course, and make that evident, into what error will he fall?
Line 5
The fifth line, undivided, shows us (the ruler) sincere in (fostering all) that is excellent. There will be good fortune.
Line 6
The topmost line, divided, shows us (that sincerity) firmly held and clung to, yea, and bound fast. (We see) the king with it presenting his offerings on the western mountain.