Anonymous (traditionally attributed to King Wen, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius) · Complete work
Hexagram 5 · Xū ䷄
Hexagram 5 · Xū ䷄ of 69. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
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需：有孚，光亨。貞吉，利涉大川。
初九：需于郊，利用恆，无咎。
九二：需于沙，小有言，終吉。
九三：需于泥，致寇至。
六四：需于血，出自穴。
九五：需于酒食，貞吉。
上六：入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。
彖曰：需，須也，險在前也；剛健而不陷，其義不困窮矣。需，有孚，光亨，貞吉，位乎天位，以正中也。利涉大川，往有功也。
象曰：雲上於天，需；君子以飲食宴樂。
需于郊，不犯難行也。利用恆，无咎，未失常也。
需于沙，衍在中也。雖小有言，以吉終也。
需于泥，災在外也。自我致寇，敬慎不敗也。
需于血，順以聽也。
酒食，貞吉，以中正也。
不速之客來，敬之終吉。雖不當位，未大失也。
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the classical Chinese, passage for passage, covering all 64 hexagrams with their judgments, line statements and attached commentaries, and the remaining Wings (the Great Commentary, the Discussion of the Trigrams, the Sequence and the Contrasts of the Hexagrams), 1,204 passages in all.
Xu (Waiting): There is sincerity, luminous success. Steadfastness brings good fortune; it is favorable to cross the great river.
Nine at the beginning: Waiting on the outskirts. It is favorable to remain constant. No blame.
Nine in the second place: Waiting on the sand. There is a little talk; good fortune in the end.
Nine in the third place: Waiting in the mud invites robbers to come.
Six in the fourth place: Waiting amid blood. Emerge from the pit.
Nine in the fifth place: Waiting with wine and food. Steadfastness brings good fortune.
Six at the top: Entering the pit, three uninvited guests arrive. Treat them with reverence; good fortune in the end.
The Judgment Commentary says: Xu means waiting; danger lies ahead. Firm and strong, one does not fall into it, and so one is not trapped. Waiting with sincerity brings luminous success; steadfastness brings good fortune because one occupies heaven's place, upright and central. It is favorable to cross the great river because advancing brings achievement.
The Image Commentary says: Clouds rise to heaven: Xu. Thus the noble person eats, drinks, and enjoys rest.
Waiting on the outskirts: one does not rush into difficulty. Remaining constant brings no blame: one has not lost the usual way.
Waiting on the sand: the open ground is between. Though there is a little talk, the end is fortunate.
Waiting in the mud: calamity is outside. We ourselves invite the robbers; reverent caution prevents defeat.
Waiting amid blood: one obeys and listens.
Wine and food, steadfast good fortune: one is centered and upright.
Uninvited guests arrive: honor them for good fortune in the end. Though the position is not fitting, there is no great loss.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the classical Chinese, covering all 64 hexagrams with their judgments, line statements and attached commentaries, and the remaining Wings (the Great Commentary, the Discussion of the Trigrams, the Sequence and the Contrasts of the Hexagrams), 1,204 passages in all.
Xu (Waiting): There is trust. Bright success. Staying steady brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
Nine at the beginning: Wait outside the city. Continuing as usual is favorable. No blame.
Nine in the second place: Wait on the sand. There is some talk, but good fortune comes in the end.
Nine in the third place: Wait in the mud; this invites robbers to come.
Six in the fourth place: Wait amid blood; get out of the pit.
Nine in the fifth place: Wait with food and drink. Staying steady brings good fortune.
Six at the top: Enter the pit. Three guests arrive without invitation. Treat them with respect, and in the end there is good fortune.
The Judgment Commentary says: Xu means waiting, because danger lies ahead. Being firm and strong without falling in means one will not be trapped. “There is trust. Bright success. Staying steady brings good fortune” because the line occupies heaven's position and is centered and upright. Crossing the great river is favorable because going forward achieves something.
The Image Commentary says: Clouds rise into the sky: this is Xu. The noble person therefore eats, drinks, and enjoys a feast.
Waiting outside the city means not rushing into danger. Continuing as usual is favorable and brings no blame, because one has not abandoned the usual course.
Waiting on the sand means there is open space in between. Though people talk a little, it ends in good fortune.
Waiting in the mud means trouble is outside. If we ourselves invite robbers, we must be respectful and careful to avoid defeat.
Waiting amid blood means following directions and listening.
Food and drink bring good fortune through staying steady because the position is centered and upright.
Uninvited guests arrive. Treating them respectfully brings good fortune in the end. Although this line is not in its proper position, it has not made a serious mistake.