44. Gou | Coming to Meet
- Line 1 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 2 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 3 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 4 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 5 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 6 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
姤：女壮，勿用取女。
Translation: 姤 / Coming to Meet: 女壮，do not act yet取女。.
Reading note: This is the judgment of Gou (Coming to Meet), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.
初六：系于金柅，贞吉，有攸往，见凶。羸豕孚蹢躅。
Translation: First Six: tied to a firm metal brake，uprightness is auspicious，有攸往，见misfortune。羸豕孚蹢躅。.
Reading note: The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction; “misfortune” marks serious risk.
九二：包有鱼，无咎，不利宾。
Translation: Second Nine: 包有鱼，no blame，不利宾。.
Reading note: The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.
九三：臀无肤，其行次且，厉，无大咎。
Translation: Third Nine: 臀无肤，其行次且，danger; be vigilant，无大咎。.
Reading note: The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “danger” calls for vigilance.
九四：包无鱼，起凶。
Translation: Fourth Nine: 包无鱼，起misfortune。.
Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “misfortune” marks serious risk.
九五：以杞包瓜，含章，有陨自天。
Translation: Fifth Nine: Draft rendering: 以杞包瓜，含章，有陨自天。.
Reading note: The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.
上九：姤其角，吝，无咎。
Translation: Top Nine: 姤其角，regret or difficulty，no blame。.
Reading note: The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.