duìAlso known as “The Joyous” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Tui” (Legge)
joyopennesspleasing communication
In plain words
Lake upon lake: joy. Success through correctness — inner firmness, outer gentleness; friends discussing and practising together, a joy that makes people forget their toil.
The attitude it asks for
Share joy honestly; be open but not flattering, and don't buy pleasure at the cost of principle.
Tui has the meaning of pleased satisfaction.
(We have) the strong (lines) in the centre, and the weak (lines) on the outer edge (of the two trigrams), (indicating that) in pleasure what is most advantageous is the maintenance of firm correctness. Through this there will be found an accordance with (the will of) heaven, and a correspondence with (the feelings of) men. When (such) pleasure goes before the people, (and leads them on), they forget their toils; when it animates them in encountering difficulties, they forget (the risk of) death. How great is (the power of) this pleased satisfaction, stimulating in such a way the people!
The Image
麗澤，兌；君子以朋友講習。
(Two symbols representing) the waters of a marsh, one over the other, form Tui. The superior man, in accordance with this, (encourages) the conversation of friends and (the stimulus of) their (common) practice.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
引兌。
The topmost line, divided, shows the pleasure of its subject in leading and attracting others.
Its symbolism
上六引兌，未光也。
'The topmost line, divided, shows the pleasure (of its subject) in leading and attracting others:'—his (virtue) is not yet brilliant.
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject deliberating about what to seek his pleasure in, and not at rest. He borders on what would be injurious, but there will be cause for joy.
Its symbolism
九四之喜，有慶也。
'The joy in connexion with (the subject of) the fourth line, undivided,' is due to the happiness (which he will produce).
The first line, undivided, shows the pleasure of (inward) harmony. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
和兌之吉，行未疑也。
'The good fortune attached to the pleasure of (inward) harmony' arises from there being nothing in the conduct (of the subject of the line) to awaken doubt.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 58, Pleasure (Lake), mean?
Lake upon lake: joy. Success through correctness — inner firmness, outer gentleness; friends discussing and practising together, a joy that makes people forget their toil.
Which trigrams form Pleasure (Lake)?
兌 above 兌 — lake over lake. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 家人 Household.
What happens when a line of Pleasure (Lake) 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 Pleasure (Lake) in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — — - - — — - - is Pleasure (Lake). You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.