Cuì — Gathering Together

Modern Interpretation

Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to see the great man. Persistence furthers. Great offerings bring good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something. Where people are gathered, religious forces are needed. But there must also be a human leader as the center. To bring others together, a leader must first be collected within himself. Only collective moral force can unite the world. Great times of unification leave great achievements behind them.

Modern Interpretation

Over the earth, the lake—if it gathers until it rises above the earth, there's danger of breakthrough. Renew your weapons to meet the unforeseen. Where people gather, strife arises; where possessions collect, robbery occurs. Arm promptly against the unexpected. Human woes come from unexpected events against which we're not prepared. Be ready, and they can be prevented.

「澤上於地，萃。」湖水聚集在地上，如果漲得太高，有決堤的危險。人聚在一起，紛爭會來；財物聚在一起，盜賊會來。所以要整備武器，防範意外。人的禍患往往來自沒有準備的事。準備好了，就能防住。

Receiving blessings and fortune, there are gains to be had. Yet it is ill to venture beyond the walls; the sick man is trapped among thorns.

Bruegel painted this scene of a Flemish peasant wedding feast in a barn. The crowd gathers around the bride (under the paper crown) as servers carry platters and a bagpiper waits to play. The communal gathering around shared food and celebration connects to hexagram 45's theme of gathering together.

The Judgment

The gathering together of people in large communities is either a natural occurrence, as in the case of the family, or an artificial one, as in the case of the state. The family gathers about the father as its head. The perpetuation of this gathering in groups is achieved through the sacrifice to the ancestors, at which the whole clan is gathered together. Through the collective piety of the living members of the family, the ancestors become so integrated in the spiritual life of the family that it cannot be dispersed or dissolved. Where men are to be gathered together, religious forces are needed. But there must also be a human leader to serve as the center of the group. In order to be able to bring others together, this leader must first of all be collected within himself. Only collective moral force can unite the world. Such great times of unification will leave great achievements behind them. This is the significance of the great offerings that are made. In the secular sphere likewise there is need of great deeds in the time of GATHERING TOGETHER.

The Image

If the water in the lake gathers until it rises above the earth, there is danger of a break-through. Precautions must be taken to prevent this. Similarly where men gather together in great numbers, strife is likely to arise; where possessions are collected, robbery is likely to occur. Thus in the time of GATHERING TOGETHER we must arm promptly to ward off the unexpected. Human woes usually come as a result of unexpected events against which we are not forearmed. If we are prepared, they can be prevented.

First (Bottom) Line

The situation is this: People desire to gather around a leader to whom they look up. But they are in a large group, by which they allow themselves to be influenced, so that they waver in their decision. Thus they lack a firm center around which to gather. But if expression is given to this need, and if they call for help, one grasp of the hand from the leader is enough to turn away all distress. Therefore they must not allow themselves to be led astray. It is undoubtedly right that they should attach themselves to this leader.

Second Line

In the time of GATHERING TOGETHER, we should make no arbitrary choice of the way. There are secret forces at work, leading together those who belong together. We must yield to this attraction; then we make no mistakes. Where inner relationships exist, no great preparations and formalities are necessary. People understand one another forthwith, just as the Divinity graciously accepts a small offering if it comes from the heart.

Third Line

Often a man feels an urge to unite with others, but the individuals around him have already formed themselves into a group, so that he remains isolated. The whole situation proves untenable. Then he ought to choose the way of progress, resolutely allying himself with a man who stands nearer to the center of the group, and can help him to gain admission to the closed circle. This is not a mistake, even though at first his position as an outsider is somewhat humiliating.

Fourth Line

This describes a man who gathers people around him in the name of his ruler. Since he is not striving for any special advantages for himself but is working unselfishly to bring about general unity, his work is crowned with success, and everything becomes as it should be.

Fifth Line

When people spontaneously gather around a man, it is only a good. It gives him a certain influence that can be altogether useful. But of course there is also the possibility that many may gather around him not because of a feeling of confidence but merely because of his influential position. This is certainly to be regretted. The only means of dealing with such people is to gain their confidence through steadfastness and intensified, unswerving devotion to duty. In this way secret mistrust will gradually be overcome, and there will be no occasion for regret.

Sixth (Top) Line

It may happen that an individual would like to ally himself with another, but his good intentions are misunderstood. Then he becomes sad and laments. But this is the right course. For it may cause the other person to come to his senses, so that the alliance that has been sought and so painfully missed is after all achieved.