Gou

Judgment

姤 女壯 勿用取女

The woman is hurt, so do not marry.

Interpretation

The Koo (Meeting) Hexagram has Geon (Heaven) in the upper trigram and Son (Wind) in the lower trigram. Geon represents heaven, and Son represents wind. The image of the Koo hexagram is wind beneath heaven, where the wind blows across the world, and everything is affected by it. Koo means to meet or encounter.

In the commentary, Ye refers to a woman, Jang uses the character for "to borrow" and means "to hurt" or "to harm." Chwi is another character used to mean "to marry." The commentary advises against marrying a woman who has caused a country to fall, as such a woman brings misfortune.

For someone consulting the hexagram, the meaning is that it is a time when random or accidental events are likely to occur. The wind blows under heaven, suggesting that by chance, one may encounter various circumstances, both fortunate and unfortunate. It is a time when accidents, disasters, fraud, or losses can happen unexpectedly. However, it is also a time when fortune, wealth, or opportunities may come by chance.

The hexagram's image, where there is one Yin line and five Yang lines, suggests that a woman, symbolized here as the Yin line, has five men vying for her attention. This woman is destined for misfortune, and according to the commentary, she would lead a country to ruin, so it is advised not to marry her.

初六 繫于金柅,貞吉,有攸往,見凶,羸豕孚蹢躅

Initial Six: Bound to a gold belt, firm and auspicious. If there is an onward journey, see misfortune, weakened pig wandering.

The character "fri" refers to brass, and "I, too, miss you" means failure in winding thread. The "Gold teeth" refers to a failure made of brass and refers to a noble person. Here, it is used to describe the last king of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou. A person who receives this line is in a situation where they are entangled with a noble, possibly facing a difficult situation. The inquiry will be favorable, but a struggle against inevitable decline will occur.

九二 包有魚,无咎。不利賓

Nine Two: Fish are caught in a net, no fault, but it is not beneficial for guests.

The word "Packing unit" refers to a kitchen, and "Vienna" means becoming a guest. In this context, it suggests that despite the king’s tyranny, the country still has loyal ministers. The situation implies that although loyal ministers remain, it is not beneficial to enter a disordered court.

九三 臀无膚,其行次且,厲,无大咎

Nine Three: The rear is without skin, the walk is slow, danger exists, but no great misfortune.

The term "Dun" refers to the buttocks. "Bu" means leather and flesh. "Cha" refers to hesitation. The person asking about the hexagram is in a situation where they are hesitating and facing difficulty. The task will require much effort but will eventually be completed with perseverance.

九四 包无魚,起凶

Nine Four: The net is without fish, causing misfortune.

Loyalty has vanished, and collapse is imminent. The task at hand will bring misfortune and ruin.

九五 以杞包瓜,含章,有隕自天

Nine Five: Using a bag to carry melons, with merit, a fall from heaven.

King Zhou, enamored with Daji, binds the people with her, harming them through love and inviting heaven’s wrath, leading to Yin’s fall by King Wu as divine will. The task at hand will see obsession with small things cost you greatly; live truly under heaven’s truth to prosper, or defy it and perish.

上九 其角,吝。无咎

Top Nine: The horn is troubling, no fault.

Yin’s King Zhou meets King Wu’s sharp forces, unable to save his realm, as Wu justly fells the tyrant. The task at hand is inescapable, digging your own grave, and it will be difficult.