I Ching Hexagram 17 - Following
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 17 "Following"
隨 - Suí
Trạch Lôi Tùy
Following
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☱ Dui, Lake
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☳ Zhen, Thunder
Other Titles: According With, Acquiring Followers, Adapting, Adjusting, To Accord With, To Accompany, Concordance, Conformance to The Work.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Following has supreme success. Perseverance furthers. No blame.
Legge: Following indicates successful progress and no error through firm correctness.
Blofeld: Following. Sublime success! Righteous persistence brings reward -- no error! [This sublime success comes, of course, only to those who follow what is right, namely the will of heaven or of those whose own will embodies it.]
Liu: Following. Great success. It is of benefit to continue. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Following: Prime receipt; beneficial to determine; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Following is greatly developmental: it is beneficial if correct; then there is no fault.
Cleary (2): Following is very successful, etc.
Wu: Following is primordial, pervasive, prosperous, and persevering. There will be no blame.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Thunder in the middle of the lake: the image of Following. Thus the superior man at nightfall goes indoors for rest and recuperation.
Legge: Thunder in the marsh: the image of Following. The superior man, in accordance with this, at nightfall enters his house and rests.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes thunder rumbling within a swamp! When darkness falls, the Superior Man goes within and rests peacefully. [The component trigrams can be read as thunder and marsh, but also as movement and joy. In the Book of Change, joy is frequently associated with willing obedience to and glad acceptance of what is right.]
Liu: Thunder in the lake symbolizes following. In the evening, the superior man rests and relaxes in his home.
Cleary (1): There is thunder in the lake, Following. Thus do superior people go inside and rest when the sun goes down.
Cleary (2): … Leaders go in and rest at sundown.
Wu: Thunder in the marsh is the symbol of Following. Thus the jun zi retires toward the twilight of the day.
Line 1
初九: 官有渝, 貞吉, 出門交有功．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The standard is changing. Perseverance brings good fortune. To go out of the door in company produces deeds.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows us one changing the object of his pursuit; if he is firmly correct there will be good fortune. Going beyond his own gate to find associates, he will achieve merit.
Blofeld: Those in power undergo a change -- righteous determination brings good fortune! Going forth from home and mingling with those outside will produce tangible results.
Liu: One's position is changing. To continue brings good fortune. Both friends and business are gained by going out. Success.
Shaughnessy: The office perhaps notifies; determination is auspicious; going out of the gate to interact has results.
Cleary (1): Standards change; it is good to be correct. Going outside and mixing is effective.
Cleary (2): … Interaction outside the gate is successful.
Wu: The way of conducting public affairs is subject to change. Perseverance will bring good fortune. Success can be had by communicating with people from without.
Line 2
六二: 係小子, 失丈夫．
Wilhelm/Baynes: If one clings to the little boy, one loses the strong man.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows us one who cleaves to the little boy, and lets go the man of age and experience.
Blofeld: He belongs to (i.e. puts himself at the service of) the boy and thereby loses the adult. [The implied meaning is that he rejects what is superior and follows what is inferior.]
Liu: By staying with the boy, you lose the strong man.
Shaughnessy: Tying the little son, losing the senior fellow.
Cleary (1): Involved with the child, one loses the adult.
Wu: She clings to her child, but loses her husband.
Line 3
六三: 係丈夫, 失小子; 隨有求得, 利居貞．
Wilhelm/Baynes: If one clings to the strong man, one loses the little boy. Through following one finds what one seeks. It furthers one to remain persevering.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, 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 firm correctness.
Blofeld: He belongs to (i.e. is of service to) the adult and loses the boy. By following the former, he gains what he desires. It is advisable to make no move but to remain determined.
Liu: By staying with the strong man, you lose the boy. Through following, one will gain what one seeks. To continue benefits.
Shaughnessy: Tying the senior fellow, losing the little son; in following there is the seeking to get; beneficial to determine about dwelling.
Cleary (1): Involved with the adult, one loses the child. Following with an aim, one gains. It is beneficial to abide in rectitude.
Cleary (2): … It is good to remain correct.
Wu: She clings to her husband, but loses her child. Although she gets what she asks for, she will be privileged to remain persevering.
Line 4
九四: 隨有獲, 貞凶．有孚, 在道, 以明何咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Following creates success. Perseverance brings misfortune. To go one's way with sincerity brings clarity. How could there be blame in this?
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows us one followed and obtaining adherents. Though he is firm and correct, there will be evil. If he is sincere however in his course, and make that evident, into what error will he fall?
Blofeld: Following someone with an ulterior motive -- persisting in this course would bring misfortune. But, if as he goes his way he makes sincerity his beacon, what harm can come to him?
Liu: Success is gained by following. But to continue brings misfortune. Going the correct way leads to glory (brightness). How can there be blame?
Shaughnessy: In following there is a catch; determination is inauspicious. There is a return on the way; at the end of brightness, what trouble is there?
Cleary (1): Following has gain. Even if right, it is inauspicious. Truthfully remaining on the path, using understanding, what blame is there?
Cleary (2): Following gains, but it bodes ill even if right. Having faith in the way, thereby understanding, what fault is there?
Wu: To have a following may be advantageous. Despite perseverance, it will be foreboding. With confidence in his course, he can explain his intention. What blame can there be?
Line 5
九五: 孚于嘉, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Sincere in the good. Good fortune.
Legge: The fifth line, dynamic, shows us the ruler sincere in fostering all that is excellent. There will be good fortune.
Blofeld: Confidence is admirable -- good fortune! [ Confidence in the context of this hexagram implies perfect trust in those we follow.]
Liu: There is confidence in goodness. Good Fortune.
Shaughnessy: Returning in joy; auspicious.
Cleary: Truthfulness in good is auspicious.
Wu: Having confidence in goodness is auspicious.
Line 6
上六: 拘係之, 乃從維之．王用亨于西山．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He meets with firm allegiance and is still further bound. The king introduces him to the Western Mountain.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows us that sincerity held and clung to, yea, and bound fast. We see the king with it presenting his offerings on the Western Mountain.
Blofeld: He obtained people's allegiance and his followers clung to him. During the time he spent on the Western Mountain, the King made sacrifice.
Liu: Deeply involved with one's fellows, one tries to continue. The King offers the Western Mountain.
Shaughnessy: Grabbing and tying him, and thereafter binding him; the king uses aromatic grass on the western mountain.
Cleary (1): Binding and tying up; the king sacrifices on west mountain.
Cleary (2): In a binding involvement, the king sacrifices on the western mountain.
Wu: He is constrained and bound in order to follow. May a king make offerings to the gods of the western mountain.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 17 means to follow, to obey, and to learn from others.
Keep an open mind and be adaptive to suit the situation by adjusting your approach. Avoid the use of force or deceit when obtaining followers.
People will follow only those whom they trust willingly. Respect other people’s views and do not insist on your own opinion, or else this will result in lost opportunities.
