Coming to Meet
Heaven (乾 Qián) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 44, 姤 (Gòu), represents Coming to Meet.
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 44 (姤 Gòu). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/gou). Judgment: received Zhouyi hexagram statement (卦辭). English: Translation by Oriens Editorial Translation. Image: Xiang / Image commentary layer (象傳), distinct from the Judgment and line texts. Image and line English: named translation by James Legge, The Yî King (1899), public-domain translation; online reproduction. The named translation is used for the Image and line statements only.
1. Judgment (卦辭 Guàcí)
姤：女壯，勿用取女。
Oriens Editorial Translation: The woman is strong. Do not take this woman as a wife.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
天下有风,姤。后以施命诰四方。
James Legge: (The trigram representing) wind and that for the sky above it form Kau. The sovereign, in accordance with this, delivers his charges, and promulgates his announcements throughout the four quarters (of the kingdom).
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初六：繫于金柅，貞吉，有攸往，見凶，羸豕孚蹢躅。
James Legge: The first SIX, divided, shows how its subject should be kept (like a carriage) tied and fastened to a metal drag, in which case with firm correctness there will be good fortune. (But) if he move in any direction, evil will appear. He will be (like) a lean pig, which is sure to keep jumping about.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：包有魚，无咎，不利賓。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject with a wallet of fish. There will be no error. But it will not be well to let (the subject of the first line) go forward to the guests.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：臀无膚，其行次且，厲，无大咎。
James Legge: The third NINE, undivided, shows one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped so that he walks with difficulty. The position is perilous, but there will be no great error.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
九四：包无魚，起凶。
James Legge: The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject with his wallet, but no fish in it. This will give rise to evil.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
九五：以杞包瓜，含章，有隕自天。
James Legge: The fifth NINE, undivided, (shows its subject as) a medlar tree overspreading the gourd (beneath it). If he keep his brilliant qualities concealed, (a good issue) will descend (as) from Heaven.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上九：姤其角，吝，无咎。
James Legge: The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject receiving others on his horns. There will be occasion for regret, but there will be no error.
For the general method for changing lines and relating hexagrams, see How to Read the I Ching.
4. Modern Interpretation (Oriens commentary)
This is an Oriens interpretation, not part of the Zhouyi text.
Coming to Meet can prompt a careful question about the unforeseen: something enters uninvited — an offer, a person, a trend — and the text counsels care about what should be met at all. The figure does not forbid encounter; it weighs it.
The Chinese source and translation provenance are identified above. The Judgment is an Oriens Editorial Translation; the Image and line statements are labeled with James Legge. This keeps the modern reflection separate from both the received text and the named translation.
Nothing predicts who or what will appear. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 44 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.