Hexagram 9, line 1
初九Line 1 of Small Accumulation
Nine at the beginning · 小畜 xiǎo chù
爻辭 The line text
復自道，何其咎，吉。The first line, undivided, shows its subject returning and pursuing his own course. What mistake should he fall into? There will be good fortune.
復自道，其義吉也。'He returns and pursues his own path:'—it is right that there should be good fortune.
In plain words
The first line 'returns by its own path — what fault could there be? Good fortune.' At the bottom of Qian, a strong line wants to rise, but the single yin at four, the hexagram's ruler, holds the whole lower trigram in gentle check. Line one corresponds with four, so instead of straining against the restraint it turns back and keeps to its proper course. The small Image says the good fortune is a matter of what is right (其義吉也): going back to one's own way, rather than pushing where one is not yet wanted, is simply correct, and the text treats blame as unthinkable.
If this line is changing
If a small obstacle meets your first move, treat it as a cue to return to what is properly yours; you lose nothing by going back early.
Where the line stands
- A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 乾 Qian (the Creative) (heaven).
- It corresponds (應) with line 4: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
小畜 Small Accumulation becomes ䷸ 57 巽 Yielding (Wind)
Wind upon wind: the gentle that penetrates everywhere. Small success; favourable to have somewhere to go and to see the great man — persistent gentle influence rather than force.
What it becomes57 · 巽 Yielding (Wind)xùnThe six lines of 小畜 Small Accumulation
- 初九Nine at the beginningreturning · one's own path · no blame
- 九二Nine in the second placedrawn back · central · not losing oneself
- 九三Nine in the third placespokes fall out · averted eyes · forcing it
- 六四Six in the fourth placesincerity · ruler of the hexagram · fear departs
- 九五Nine in the fifth placebound together · shared wealth · neighbour
- 上九Nine at the toprain has fallen · moon nearly full · do not advance
Read 小畜 Small Accumulation for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Nine at the beginning of hexagram 9, Small Accumulation, mean?
- The first line 'returns by its own path — what fault could there be? Good fortune.' At the bottom of Qian, a strong line wants to rise, but the single yin at four, the hexagram's ruler, holds the whole lower trigram in gentle check. Line one corresponds with four, so instead of straining against the restraint it turns back and keeps to its proper course. The small Image says the good fortune is a matter of what is right (其義吉也): going back to one's own way, rather than pushing where one is not yet wanted, is simply correct, and the text treats blame as unthinkable.
- What does hexagram 9 become when line 1 changes?
- Small Accumulation becomes hexagram 57, 巽 Yielding (Wind): Wind upon wind: the gentle that penetrates everywhere. Small success; favourable to have somewhere to go and to see the great man — persistent gentle influence rather than force.
- Is line 1 of Small Accumulation in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).