Waiting (Nourishment)
Water (坎 Kǎn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below
Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens
I Ching Hexagram 5, 需 (Xū), represents Waiting (Nourishment).
SourceZhouyi (周易, The Book of Changes) — hexagram 5 (需 Xū). Chinese source: Chinese Text Project, based on 《武英殿十三經注疏》本《周易正義》 (ctp:book-of-changes/xu). 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)
需：有孚，光亨，貞吉。利涉大川。
Oriens Editorial Translation: There is trust; radiant success. Steadfastness brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
2. Image (象 Xiàng / Xiang commentary)
云上于天,需。君子以饮食宴乐。
James Legge: (The trigram for) clouds ascending over that for the sky forms Hsu. The superior man, in accordance with this, eats and drinks, feasts and enjoys himself (as if there were nothing else to employ him).
3. Line Statements (爻辭 Yáocí)
Line 1 of 6 (from the bottom):
初九：需于郊。利用恆，无咎。
James Legge: The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be well for him constantly to maintain (the purpose thus shown), in which case there will be no error.
Line 2 of 6 (from the bottom):
九二：需于沙。小有言，終吉。
James Legge: The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting on the sand (of the mountain stream). He will (suffer) the small (injury of) being spoken (against), but in the end there will be good fortune.
Line 3 of 6 (from the bottom):
九三：需于泥，致寇至。
James Legge: The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject in the mud (close by the stream). He thereby invites the approach of injury.
Line 4 of 6 (from the bottom):
六四：需于血，出自穴。
James Legge: The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject waiting in (the place of) blood. But he will get out of the cavern.
Line 5 of 6 (from the bottom):
九五：需于酒食，貞吉。
James Legge: The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting amidst the appliances of a feast. Through his firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
Line 6 of 6 (from the bottom):
上六：入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。
James Legge: The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject entered into the cavern. (But) there are three guests coming, without being urged, (to his help). If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end.
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.
Waiting can prompt a careful question about timing: what distinguishes holding a good position calmly from stalling, and what would make waiting sincere rather than avoidant? In this figure waiting is active — one remains near strength, keeps provisions in order, and does not force crossing before conditions allow. None of that predicts when, whether, or in what form anything arrives.
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.
This reflection promises no outcome to anyone who waits. Health, financial, legal, employment, and relationship decisions belong within their appropriate professional and personal contexts.
Continue with the Hexagram 5 card and the I Ching guide; these are reading paths, not additional predictions.