Hexagram 9, line 5
九五Line 5 of Small Accumulation
Nine in the fifth place · 小畜 xiǎo chù
爻辭 The line text
有孚攣如，富以其鄰。The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity, and drawing others to unite with him. Rich in resources, he employs his neighbours (in the same cause with himself).
有孚攣如，不獨富也。'He is possessed of sincerity, and draws others to unite with him:'—he does not use only his own rich resources.
In plain words
Line five is 'sincere and linked together; rich, and shares with the neighbour.' This is the strong, central ruler in its proper place, and its neighbour is the yin at four that is doing the hexagram's work. 攣如 pictures hands clasped: the sovereign does not resent the small restraint but joins himself to it and lends it his resources. The small Image puts it in one phrase: 'not rich alone' (不獨富也). In the story of Xiao Xu this is why the clouds can thicken at all — the great power consents to be accumulated by the small.
If this line is changing
If you hold the stronger position, bind yourself to the one who is doing the careful work and share what you have; accumulation happens through you, not despite you.
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 is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
- It belongs to the upper trigram 巽 Xun (the Gentle) (wind).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 2: both lines are yang, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
小畜 Small Accumulation becomes ䷙ 26 大畜 Great Accumulation
Heaven inside the mountain: great power held and stored. Firm correctness brings success; serve in public rather than eating at home, and the great river can be crossed.
What it becomes26 · 大畜 Great Accumulationdà chùThe 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 in the fifth place of hexagram 9, Small Accumulation, mean?
- Line five is 'sincere and linked together; rich, and shares with the neighbour.' This is the strong, central ruler in its proper place, and its neighbour is the yin at four that is doing the hexagram's work. 攣如 pictures hands clasped: the sovereign does not resent the small restraint but joins himself to it and lends it his resources. The small Image puts it in one phrase: 'not rich alone' (不獨富也). In the story of Xiao Xu this is why the clouds can thicken at all — the great power consents to be accumulated by the small.
- What does hexagram 9 become when line 5 changes?
- Small Accumulation becomes hexagram 26, 大畜 Great Accumulation: Heaven inside the mountain: great power held and stored. Firm correctness brings success; serve in public rather than eating at home, and the great river can be crossed.
- Is line 5 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. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).