TianEon
豫 yù · Delight

豫Delight

yùAlso known as “Enthusiasm” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Yü” (Legge)

enthusiasmreadinessdelight

In plain words

Thunder bursting out of the earth: music, enthusiasm, movement in harmony with the time. Favourable to appoint helpers and set things in motion.

The attitude it asks for

Let genuine enthusiasm move others — but prepare in advance, and don't let delight slide into complacency.

Structure

Upper trigram震Zhen (the Arousing)雷 · thunder · Wood
Lower trigram坤Kun (the Receptive)地 · earth · Earth

卦辭 The Judgment

豫:利建侯,行師。

Yü indicates that, (in the state which it implies), feudal princes may be set up, and the hosts put in motion, with advantage.

Commentary on the Judgment
豫,剛應而志行,順以動,豫。豫,順以動,故天地如之,而況建侯行師乎?天地以順動,故日月不過,而四時不忒;聖人以順動,則刑罰清而民服。豫之時義大矣哉!

In Yü we see the strong (line) responded to by all the others, and the will (of him whom it represents) being carried out; and (also) docile obedience employing movement (for its purposes). (From these things comes) Yü (the Condition of harmony and satisfaction). In this condition we have docile obedience employing movement (for its purposes), and therefore it is so as between heaven and earth;—how much more will it be so (among men) in 'the setting up of feudal princes and putting the hosts in motion!' Heaven and earth show that docile obedience in connexion with movement, and hence the sun and moon make no error (in time), and the four seasons do not deviate (from their order). The sages show such docile obedience in connexion with their movements, and hence their punishments and penalties are entirely just, and the people acknowledge it by their submission. Great indeed are the time and significance indicated in Yü!

The Image
雷出地奮,豫。先王以作樂崇德,殷薦之上帝,以配祖考。

(The trigrams for) the earth and thunder issuing from it with its crashing noise form Yü. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, composed their music and did honour to virtue, presenting it especially and most grandly to God, when they associated with Him (at the service) their highest ancestor and their father.

爻辭 The six lines

When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:

  1. 上六Six at the top
    冥豫,成有渝,无咎。

    The topmost line, divided, shows its subject with darkened mind devoted to the pleasure and satisfaction (of the time); but if he change his course even when (it may be considered as) completed, there will be no error.

    Its symbolism
    冥豫在上,何可長也。

    'With darkened mind devoted to the harmony and satisfaction (of the time),' as shown in the topmost (line):—how can one in such a condition continue long?

    If this line changes → ䷢ 35 晉 Advancing
  2. 六五Six in the fifth place
    貞疾,恆不死。

    The fifth line, divided, shows one with a chronic complaint, but who lives on without dying.

    Its symbolism
    六五貞疾,乘剛也。恆不死,中未亡也。

    '(The subject of) the fifth line has a chronic complaint:'—this is shown by his being mounted on the strong (line). 'He still lives on without dying:'—he is in the central position, (and its memories of the past) have not yet perished.

    If this line changes → ䷬ 45 萃 Assembly
  3. 九四Nine in the fourth place
    由豫,大有得。勿疑。朋盍簪。

    The fourth line, undivided, shows him from whom the harmony and satisfaction come. Great is the success which he obtains. Let him not allow suspicions to enter his mind, and thus friends will gather around him.

    Its symbolism
    由豫,大有得;志大行也。

    'From him the harmony and satisfaction come; great is the success which he obtains:'—his aims take effect on a grand scale.

    If this line changes → ䷁ 2 坤 Earth
  4. 六三Six in the third place
    盱豫,悔。遲有悔。

    The third line, divided, shows one looking up (for favours), while he indulges the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. If he would understand!—If he be late in doing so, there will indeed be occasion for repentance.

    Its symbolism
    盱豫有悔,位不當也。

    'He looks up (for favours), while he indulges the feeling of satisfaction; there will be occasion for repentance:'—this is intimated by the position not being the appropriate one.

    If this line changes → ䷽ 62 小過 Small Excess
  5. 六二Six in the second place
    介于石,不終日,貞吉。

    The second line, divided, shows one who is firm as a rock. (He sees a thing) without waiting till it has come to pass; with his firm correctness there will be good fortune.

    Its symbolism
    不終日,貞吉;以中正也。

    '(He sees a thing) without waiting till it has come to pass; with his firm correctness there will be good fortune:'—this is shown by the central and correct position (of the line).

    If this line changes → ䷧ 40 解 Release
  6. 初六Six at the beginning
    鳴豫,凶。

    The first line, divided, shows its subject proclaiming his pleasure and satisfaction. There will be evil.

    Its symbolism
    初六鳴豫,志窮凶也。

    'The (subject of the) first line proclaims his pleasure and satisfaction:'—there will be evil; his wishes have been satisfied to overflowing.

    If this line changes → ䷲ 51 震 Shock (Thunder)

Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).

Questions about this hexagram

What does Hexagram 16, Delight, mean?
Thunder bursting out of the earth: music, enthusiasm, movement in harmony with the time. Favourable to appoint helpers and set things in motion.
Which trigrams form Delight?
震 above 坤 — thunder over earth. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 蹇 Impasse.
What happens when a line of Delight changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Delight in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - - - — - - - - is Delight. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.

Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).

Hexagram 16 Delight (豫) — Enthusiasm: meaning, judgment and lines · TianEon