Hexagram 44
Coming to Meet (Temptation)
姤 (Gòu)
Heaven over Wind
The image is of the Wind blowing under Heaven, touching all things. This symbolizes an encounter with a pervasive, insinuating influence. A single weak line has entered at the bottom and now meets five strong lines. This represents the unexpected appearance of a tempting but inferior principle. It may seem small and harmless, but it has the power to grow and corrupt if not properly handled. It is a moment that calls for extreme caution.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
The Judgment is a clear and strong warning. It refers to the single yin line at the bottom as a "powerful maiden." Her power lies in her boldness and the element of surprise. She represents a temptation—an idea, a person, or an opportunity—that is attractive on the surface but fundamentally weak or corrupting. The advice is unequivocal: do not enter into a lasting union ("marry") with this influence. To embrace it would be a serious mistake with long-term negative consequences.
The Image (象传)
The Image advises a proactive, preventative strategy. Just as the wind travels everywhere, a leader must ensure their positive principles and clear commands are known throughout their entire sphere of influence. By establishing a strong, pervasive framework of what is right and wrong, one can guard against the insidious spread of negative ideas before they can take root. It is a call to fortify your own principles and broadcast them widely.
Interpretation & Guidance
Receiving Hexagram 44 is a signal for high alert. You are encountering something or someone new that may seem alluring but carries a hidden danger. This could be a tempting offer, a seductive idea, or a person who is not what they seem. Do not be naive. This is a time for discernment and caution, not for commitment. The hexagram strongly advises against forming a permanent bond with this new influence. Recognize its potential to corrupt and keep it at a distance. The best defense is to be very clear about your own values and not allow them to be compromised.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"It must be checked with a brake of bronze. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one lets it take its course... misfortune."
This is the entry of the negative influence itself. It must be stopped immediately and decisively. Do not underestimate its power. Even if it seems weak now (like a lean pig), if allowed to grow it will cause great trouble. Immediate containment is essential.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"There is a fish in the tank. No blame. Does not further the guests."
You have recognized the dangerous element and are keeping it contained (the "fish in the tank"). You are not allowing it to interact with and influence others ("the guests"). This strategy of containment and control is correct and avoids blame. You are managing the situation well.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"There is no skin on his thighs, and walking is difficult... If one is mindful of the danger, no great mistake is made."
You are strongly tempted to engage with the negative influence, and this inner conflict makes you restless and unable to proceed correctly. The urge to give in is powerful. However, as long as you remain conscious of the danger and actively resist, you can avoid making a major error.
Nine in the Fourth Place (九四)
Fourth line - Yang
"No fish in the tank. This leads to misfortune."
Through your own fault, you have become separated from the people you should be leading and protecting. Because of this distance, you cannot contain the negative influence (there is "no fish in the tank"). The inferior element is now free to cause trouble. This leads to misfortune.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五)
Fifth line - Yang
"A melon covered with willow leaves. Hidden lines. Then it drops down to one from heaven."
As a wise and benevolent leader, you protect the good within your sphere (the melon) while tolerating the inferior element for now. You keep your own virtues hidden, not making a show of them. You remain patient, confident that your goodness will be recognized and that good fortune will come to you naturally, as if fated.
Top Nine (上九)
Top line - Yang
"He comes to meet with his horns. Humiliation. No blame."
You have withdrawn from worldly affairs and hold yourself proudly aloof. When the tempting influence approaches, it finds nothing to connect with—only your sharp "horns" of rejection. While this proud detachment may be seen by others as arrogance (humiliation), it is a blameless way to avoid entanglement with what is base and corrupting.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
This hexagram serves as a strong warning in matters of love. It often points to a new, tempting encounter that should be avoided. The attraction may be strong, but the foundation is weak, and a relationship would lead to future trouble. Do not commit. If you are in a relationship, this can warn of a subtle, corrupting influence entering the dynamic—perhaps an outside temptation or a negative pattern of behavior. Be extremely cautious and discerning.
Career & Business (事业)
In a business context, this hexagram warns of a tempting but dangerous proposal, a new hire with a hidden agenda, or a seemingly minor compromise on ethics. This "powerful maiden" must not be "married." Do not sign the contract. Do not enter into the partnership. The potential for corruption and long-term damage is high. The moment this influence is spotted, it must be contained or rejected before it can spread.
Health & Wellness (健康)
For health, Coming to Meet represents the initial, subtle onset of an illness. It may be a symptom that seems trivial and easy to ignore. However, the hexagram warns that this is the entry point of a larger problem. It must be "checked with a brake of bronze"—addressed immediately and decisively. Do not let small health issues go unchecked, as they have the potential to become serious conditions.
Financial Matters (财运)
This hexagram warns against a seductive financial opportunity that is likely a trap. A get-rich-quick scheme, a speculative investment that seems too good to be true, or a loan with hidden strings attached are all possibilities. The advice is to reject these offers. Engaging with them will lead to misfortune. Stick with proven, sound financial principles and avoid temptation.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
The path to personal growth here lies in developing discernment and self-restraint. It is the ability to recognize a negative or corrupting influence at its very beginning, even when it appears attractive. Growth comes from having the strength of character to say no to temptation and to nip a bad habit in the bud. It is about understanding that not all encounters are opportunities, and some meetings are best avoided entirely.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
This is a time for maximum caution and preventative action. An unexpected encounter has introduced a potentially negative force into your life. Do not engage it, do not encourage it, and do not commit to it. The best course is to recognize the danger and stop it at the source. Be firm in your principles and do not allow yourself to be seduced from your path. Your primary task is to prevent future trouble.
