45. Cui | Gathering | Zhou Yi | English

萃（cuì）：（）亨（hēng），（）王（wáng）假（jiǎ）有（yǒu）庙（miào），（）利（lì）见（jiàn）大（dà）人（rén）。（）亨（hēng），（）利（lì）贞（zhēn）。（）用（yòng）大（dà）牲（shēng），（）吉（jí），（）利（lì）有（yǒu）攸（yōu）往（wǎng）。（）

Translation: 萃 / Gathering: 亨，王假有庙，it is beneficial to meet a great person。亨，it is beneficial to remain upright。用大牲，auspicious，it is beneficial to have somewhere to go。.

Reading note: This is the judgment of Cui (Gathering), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “meeting a great person” points to guidance from someone of virtue and authority; “having somewhere to go” means forward action is fitting; “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

初（chū）六（liù）：（）有（yǒu）孚（fú）不（bù）终（zhōng），（）乃（nǎi）乱（luàn）乃（nǎi）萃（cuì）。（）若（ruò）号（hào）一（yī）握（wò）为（wèi）笑（xiào），（）勿（wù）恤（xù）。（）往（wǎng），（）无（wú）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: First Six: there is sincerity不终，乃乱乃萃。若号一握为笑，do not worry。往，no blame。.

Reading note: The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “sincerity” points to trustworthiness and inner confidence; “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.

六（liù）二（èr）：（）引（yǐn）吉（jí）无（wú）咎（jiù），（）孚（fú）乃（nǎi）利（lì）用（yòng）禴（yuè）。（）

Translation: Second Six: 引auspiciousno blame，孚乃利用禴。.

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; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

六（liù）三（sān）：（）萃（cuì）如（rú）嗟（jiē）如（rú），（）无（wú）攸（yōu）利（lì），（）往（wǎng）无（wú）咎（jiù），（）小（xiǎo）吝（lìn）。（）

Translation: Third Six: 萃如嗟如，there is nowhere that brings advantage，往no blame，小regret or difficulty。.

Reading note: The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. the warning against going forward suggests restraint rather than expansion; “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.

九（jiǔ）四（sì）：（）大（dà）吉（jí），（）无（wú）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: Fourth Nine: greatly auspicious，no blame。.

Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

九（jiǔ）五（wǔ）：（）萃（cuì）有（yǒu）位（wèi），（）无（wú）咎（jiù），（）匪（fěi）孚（fú）。（）元（yuán）永（yǒng）贞（zhēn），（）悔（huǐ）亡（wáng）。（）

Translation: Fifth Nine: 萃有位，no blame，匪孚。元永贞，regret disappears。.

Reading note: The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.

上（shàng）六（liù）：（）赍（jī）咨（zī）涕（tì）洟（tì），（）无（wú）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: Top Six: 赍咨涕洟，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.

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45. Cui | Gathering

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