bǐAlso known as “Holding Together” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Pî” (Legge)
allianceclosenessbelonging
In plain words
Water on the earth, flowing together: alliance and mutual support. Favourable to unite around a worthy centre; latecomers who hesitate lose their chance.
The attitude it asks for
Choose alliances by character and sincerity, join early, and let those who want to leave go freely.
Structure
Upper trigram☵坎Kan (the Abysmal)水 · water · Water
Lower trigram☷坤Kun (the Receptive)地 · earth · Earth
Pî indicates that (under the conditions which it supposes) there is good fortune. But let (the principal party intended in it) re-examine himself, (as if) by divination, whether his virtue be great, unintermitting, and firm. If it be so, there will be no error. Those who have not rest will then come to him; and with those who are (too) late in coming it will be ill.
Commentary on the Judgment
比，吉也，比，輔也，下順從也。原筮元永貞，无咎，以剛中也。不寧方來，上下應也。後夫凶，其道窮也。
'Pî indicates that there is good fortune:'—(the name) Pî denotes help; (and we see in the figure) inferiors docilely following (their superior).
'Let (the principal party intended in it) re-examine himself, (as if) by divination, whether his virtue be great, unintermitting, and firm;—if it be so, there will be no error:'—all this follows from the position of the strong line in the centre (of the upper trigram). 'Those who have not rest will come to him:'—high and low will respond to its subject. 'With those who are (too) late in coming it will be ill:'—(for them) the way (of good fortune here indicated) has been exhausted.
The Image
地上有水，比；先王以建萬國，親諸侯。
(The trigram representing) the earth, and over it (that representing) water, form Pî. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, established the various states and maintained an affectionate relation to their princes.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
比之无首，凶。
In the topmost line, divided, we see one seeking union and attachment without having taken the first step (to such an end). There will be evil.
Its symbolism
比之无首，无所終也。
'He seeks union and attachment without taking the first (step to such an end):'—there is no possibility of a (good) issue.
The fifth line, undivided, affords the most illustrious instance of seeking union and attachment. (We seem to see in it) the king urging his pursuit of the game (only) in three directions, and allowing the escape of all the animals before him, while the people of his towns do not warn one another (to prevent it). There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
顯比之吉，位正中也。舍逆取順，失前禽也。邑人不誡，上使中也。
'The good fortune belonging to the most illustrious instance of seeking union and attachment' appears in the correct and central position (of the fifth line, undivided). (The king's) neglecting (the animals) confronting him (and then fleeing), and (only) taking those who present themselves as it were obediently, is seen in 'his allowing the escape of those in front of him.' 'That the people of his towns do not warn one another (to prevent such escape),' shows how he, in his high eminence, has made them pursue the due course.
In the fourth line, divided, we see its subject seeking for union with the one beyond himself. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
外比於賢，以從上也。
'Union is sought (by the party intended here) with one beyond himself, and (in this case) with a worthy object:'—he is following (the ruler) above him.
In the second line, divided, we see the movement towards union and attachment proceeding from the inward (mind). With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
比之自內，不自失也。
'The movement towards union and attachment proceeds from the inward (mind):'—(the party concerned) does not fail in what is proper to himself.
The first line, divided, shows its subject seeking by his sincerity to win the attachment of his object. There will be no error. Let (the breast) be full of sincerity as an earthenware vessel is of its contents, and it will in the end bring other advantages.
Its symbolism
比之初六，有他吉也。
From 'the seeking union with its object' shown in the first line, divided, there will be other advantages.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 8, Alliance, mean?
Water on the earth, flowing together: alliance and mutual support. Favourable to unite around a worthy centre; latecomers who hesitate lose their chance.
Which trigrams form Alliance?
坎 above 坤 — water over earth. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 剝 Peeling Away.
What happens when a line of Alliance 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 Alliance in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - - - - - — - - is Alliance. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.