cuìAlso known as “Gathering Together” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Žhui” (Legge)
gatheringassemblycommunity
In plain words
The lake over the earth: waters gathering. Success; the king approaches the temple; see the great man — people gather around sincerity, and a great offering brings good fortune.
The attitude it asks for
Bring people together around a worthy purpose, and prepare for the frictions that gathering brings.
Structure
Upper trigram☱兌Dui (the Joyous)澤 · lake · Metal
Lower trigram☷坤Kun (the Receptive)地 · earth · Earth
In (the state denoted by) Žhui, the king will repair to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man; and then there will be progress and success, though the advantage must come through firm correctness. The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous.
Žhui indicates (the condition of union, or) being collected. We have in it (the symbol of) docile obedience going on to (what is expressed by that of) satisfaction. There is the strong line in the central place, and rightly responded to. Hence comes the (idea of) union.
'The king will repair to his ancestral temple:'—with the utmost filial piety he presents his offerings (to the spirits of his ancestors). 'It will be advantageous to meet the great man, and there will then be prosperity and success:'—the union effected by him will be on and through what is correct. 'The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatsoever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous:'—all is done in accordance with the ordinances of Heaven.
When we look at the way in which the gatherings (here shown) take place, the natural tendencies (in the outward action) of heaven and earth and of all things can be seen.
The Image
澤上於地，萃；君子以除戎器，戒不虞。
(The trigram representing the) earth and that for the waters of a marsh raised above it form Žhui. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his weapons of war put in good repair, to be prepared against unforeseen contingencies.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
齎咨涕洟，无咎。
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject sighing and weeping; but there will be no error.
Its symbolism
齎咨涕洟，未安上也。
'He sighs and weeps:'—he does not yet rest in his topmost position.
The fifth line, undivided, shows the union (of all) under its subject in the place of dignity. There will be no error. If any do not have confidence in him, let him see to it that (his virtue) be great, long-continued, and firmly correct, and all occasion for repentance will disappear.
Its symbolism
萃有位，志未光也。
'There is the union (of all) under him in the place of dignity:'—(but) his mind and aim have not yet been brilliantly displayed.
The third line, divided, shows its subject striving after union and seeming to sigh, yet nowhere finding any advantage. If he go forward, he will not err, though there may be some small cause for regret.
Its symbolism
往无咎，上巽也。
'If he go forward, he will not err:'—in the subject of the topmost line there is humility and condescension.
The second line, divided, shows its subject led forward (by his correlate). There will be good fortune, and freedom from error. There is entire sincerity, and in that case (even the small offerings of) the vernal sacrifice are acceptable.
Its symbolism
引吉无咎，中未變也。
'He is led forward; there will be good fortune, and freedom from error:'—(the virtue proper to) his central place has not undergone any change.
The first line, divided, shows its subject with a sincere desire (for union), but unable to carry it out, so that disorder is brought into the sphere of his union. If he cry out (for help to his proper correlate), all at once (his tears) will give place to smiles. He need not mind (the temporary difficulty); as he goes forward, there will be no error.
Its symbolism
乃亂乃萃，其志亂也。
'In consequence disorder is brought into the sphere of his union:'—his mind and aim are thrown into confusion.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 45, Assembly, mean?
The lake over the earth: waters gathering. Success; the king approaches the temple; see the great man — people gather around sincerity, and a great offering brings good fortune.
Which trigrams form Assembly?
兌 above 坤 — lake over earth. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 漸 Gradual Advance.
What happens when a line of Assembly 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 Assembly in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - - - — — - - is Assembly. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.