豫Delight
yùAlso known as “Enthusiasm” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Yü” (Legge)
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
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.
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!
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:
- 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Read 豫 Delight for a question about
古籍
From the classics
Two of the Ten Wings speak of every hexagram: the Sequence (Xù Guà) says why it follows the one before, the Miscellany (Zá Guà) sums it up in a phrase. Here is what they say of 豫 yù · Delight.
有大而能謙，必豫，故受之以豫。Having much and being modest brings sure contentment; therefore Yù follows.
iching.tools translation (from the Chinese)
謙輕，而豫怠也。Qiān takes itself lightly, while Yù is at ease.
iching.tools translation (from the Chinese)
The classical Chinese is the authoritative text. Translations are iching.tools' own from the Chinese unless another translator is named; several attributions are traditional rather than historical (託名).
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).