ChineseStudy

58. Dui | The Joyous

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English translation

Dui / The Joyous: There is smooth progress; acting with firmness and truth is beneficial.

This is the judgment of Dui (The Joyous), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time.

First Nine: Harmony and exchange are favorable; this is auspicious.

The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

Second Nine: Sincere joy is auspicious, and regret is gone.

The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.

Third Six: When joy comes in this way, it is dangerous.

The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

Fourth Nine: In this fourth line, exchange is unstable and not yet at peace. There is hardship, yet it ends with joy.

The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

Fifth Nine: trust placed in what is being stripped away brings danger.

The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “danger” calls for vigilance.

Top Six: Joy is drawn out and carried to the surface. It is the culmination point, where one must recognize the turn and act with restraint.

The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

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