In practice
The judgment
Right now success lies in joining with people who are aligned with your project and who are a support for you. But it's important that you, too, have the qualities needed to carry it out; that's why you can toss the coins once more to find out whether you have those qualities.
The poetry
Union
Good fortune. Consult the oracle again: great and lasting constancy. No fault. The restless come from every side. The one who comes late: misfortune.
The image
On the earth there is water: union. So the ancient kings founded the ten thousand states and drew close to the lords.
The lines
- Line 6上六
If you're slow to seek alliances, by the time you realize you need help it will be too late.
Joining with no head. Misfortune.
- Line 5九五
Those who can help you will come naturally. Don't keep seeking help from someone who is reluctant to give it.
Open union. The king hunts, driving from three sides, and lets the game in front escape. The townspeople are not alarmed. Good fortune.
- Line 4六四
Staying loyal to the people you ally with, and showing that alliance openly, helps you right now.
Joining outwardly. Constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 3六三
You tend to choose badly the people you join with. Avoid shallow alliances that won't bear good fruit.
Joining with those who are not the right ones.
- Line 2六二
When you speak sincerely about what you need from others, you'll receive the right help.
Joining from within. Constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 1初六
The right help will come.
There is sincere trust: join with them. No fault. Sincere trust fills the earthen jar; in the end something more arrives. Good fortune.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Union turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 60Thriftlines 1 and 2
- 63After the Endlines 1 and 3
- 48Right Actionlines 2 and 3
- 17Adaptinglines 1 and 4
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2 and 4
- 31Attractionlines 3 and 4
- 24Coming Backlines 1 and 5
- 7The Armylines 2 and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 3 and 5
- 16Passionlines 4 and 5
- 42Increaselines 1 and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2 and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 3 and 6
- 12Declinelines 4 and 6
- 23The Falllines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 5Inactionlines 1, 2, and 3
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 2, and 4
- 49Renewallines 1, 3, and 4
- 28Excesseslines 2, 3, and 4
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 2, and 5
- 36Darknesslines 1, 3, and 5
- 46Going Uplines 2, 3, and 5
- 51Shocklines 1, 4, and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 4, and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 3, 4, and 5
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 2, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 1, 3, and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 2, 3, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 1, 4, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 2, 4, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 3, 4, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 5, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 5, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 3, 5, and 6
- 35Advancelines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 55Abundancelines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
比：吉。原筮元永貞，无咎。不寧方來，後夫凶。
象曰：地上有水，比；先王以建萬國，親諸侯。
初六：有孚，比之，无咎。有孚盈缶，終來有它，吉。
六二：比之自內，貞吉。
六三：比之匪人。
六四：外比之，貞吉。
九五：顯比。王用三驅，失前禽，邑人不誡，吉。
上六：比之无首，凶。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.