I Ching hexagram
9. Passive Restraint
小畜Xiǎo Xù
Wind over Heaven
Also called The Taming Power of the Small, The Symbol of Small restraint, The Lesser Nourisher, Taming the Small Powers, Small Accumulating, Small Harvest, Small Obstruction, Nurturance by the Small, Restraint by the Weak, Restrained, Minor Restraint, The Weak Force, The Force of the Small, Weak Forces Restrain Strong Forces "The restraint is small, success follows. Overcoming something small which is poisoning or nagging. Partially relieving a situation. Influencing that which one cannot change.” -- D.F. Hook
Hexagram 9, Passive Restraint (小畜 Xiǎo Xù) is formed by Wind over Heaven. It is also known as The Taming Power of the Small, The Symbol of Small restraint, The Lesser Nourisher, Taming the Small Powers, Small Accumulating, Small Harvest, Small Obstruction, Nurturance by the Small.
Legge
Read as
The judgment
Legge
亨。密雲不雨，自我西郊。
Passive Restraint brings about progress and success. We see dense clouds, but no rain coming from our western borders.
The six lines
line 1 is at the bottom
- Line 1Yang
復自道，何其咎，吉。
When you try to push your way through, you face resistance. It's better to hold your ground and keep the option open to either move forward or step back. This allows you to assess the situation more accurately.
- Line 2Yang
牽復，吉。
Even if you feel compelled to act, it’s wise to reconsider the circumstances and look at the experiences of those who have gone before you. The signs suggest that stepping back could lead to better outcomes.
- Line 3Yang
輿說輻，夫妻反目。
The challenges seem minor and moving forward appears possible, but you're not in control of the situation. If you charge ahead with confidence, you might end up facing numerous frustrations, which could be quite embarrassing.
- Line 4Yin
有孚，血去惕出，无咎。
By being sincere and guiding others with sound advice, you can avoid significant and real dangers. Only by facing the truth can fear and worry be dispelled, preventing any mistakes.
- Line 5Yang
有孚攣如，富以其鄰。
Through a collaborative and loyal partnership, you can enhance your resources together. This teamwork will help you achieve your objectives.
- Line 6Yang
既雨既處，尚德載，婦貞厲。月幾望，君子征凶。
You've succeeded in your efforts. Now is the time to rest and secure your position rather than trying to win everything at once. Be cautious, as challenges are beginning to arise. Pushing forward recklessly could lead to trouble.
When this hexagram changes
These are the moves that have come up most often in readings. Each page keeps the book text.
Use this hexagram in a reading
These are the same judgment and lines that appear when hexagram 9 comes up in a cast. Ask a question to see which lines change, or keep a journal of your readings. The throw uses the odds of three coins: how a reading is cast.