I Ching hexagram
44. Temptation
姤Gòu
Heaven over Wind
Also called Coming to Meet, The Symbol of Meeting, Contact, Sexual Intercourse, Encountering, Coupling, Infiltration by Inferior Men, Adultery "Contains a definite warning about a person or situation which may appear harmless but will prove dangerous." -- D.F. Hook
Hexagram 44, Temptation (姤 Gòu) is formed by Heaven over Wind. It is also known as Coming to Meet, The Symbol of Meeting, Contact, Sexual Intercourse, Encountering, Coupling, Infiltration by Inferior Men, Adultery "Contains a definite warning about a person or situation which may appear harmless but will prove dangerous." -- D.F. Hook. The judgment is James Legge. The six lines are R.L. Wing — the same texts used in a reading on this site.
The judgment
James Legge
Temptation shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry such a female.
The six lines
R.L. Wing · line 1 is at the bottom
- Line 1Yin
You have the opportunity to put limits upon an inferior element and prevent the growth of its influence. Do not be tempted to allow things to develop naturally. If you ignore it, it will not go away but will, instead, become a sizable problem. Act now.
- Line 2Yang
Keep the lid on the situation. Gently control the weak spots and do not allow them to show. If they become obvious to others, things may get out of hand.
- Line 3Yang
Although you are tempted to fall into an inferior situation, you are held back in spite of yourself. You must now resolve this indecisive conflict. Give it a great deal of thought, gain some insight, and you can avoid mistakes.
- Line 4Yang
Do not become so aloof that you lose contact with people of lesser importance. You may need their help and support sometime in the future. If you do not communicate with them now, they will not be able to help you later. Misfortune then follows.
- Line 5Yang
The superior person now relies upon the correctness of his principles and the force of his character to achieve an effect. He works quietly from within. His will is consonant with the direction of the cosmos, and he attains his aim.
- Line 6Yang
Even if you withdraw from an inferior element and reject it openly, it will still be there. You will be thought proud and aloof. It would be more practical and less humiliating to retreat quietly. Nevertheless, you are not to blame for your actions.
Use this hexagram in a reading
These are the same judgment and lines that appear when hexagram 44 comes up in a cast. Ask a question to see which lines change, or keep a journal of your readings.