Hexagram 5: Waiting (Nourishment) (需 Xū) — I Ching Guide

Q: What is I Ching Hexagram 5 (需 Waiting (Nourishment))?

I Ching Hexagram 5, 需 (Xū), represents Waiting (Nourishment). It is formed by Water (坎 Kǎn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below. The core teaching of this hexagram is captured in its Judgment: 'Waiting. If you are sincere, you have light and success. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water....'

Q: What does the Image of Hexagram 5 mean?

The Image states: 'Clouds rise up to heaven: the image of Waiting. Thus the superior man eats and drinks, is joyous and of good cheer.' This teaches that the superior person responds to the hexagram's situation by cultivating the corresponding inner quality.

Q: How do the six lines of Hexagram 5 develop its meaning?

The six lines trace a progression through the hexagram's situation. Starting from the bottom (Line 1) through Line 6, each position reveals a different aspect of how Waiting (Nourishment) manifests — from initial stirrings to the final outcome. Key lines include the ruler of the hexagram and the culminating line.

Q: What is the relationship between Hexagram 5 and other hexagrams?

Hexagram 5 (Waiting (Nourishment)) follows Hexagram 4 in the traditional King Wen sequence, forming a meaningful progression. Its nuclear hexagram and opposite/complementary hexagram provide additional dimensions of meaning.

Oriens

需

Xū — Hexagram 5

Waiting (Nourishment)

Water (坎 Kǎn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below

Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens

Summary

I Ching Hexagram 5, 需 (Xū), represents Waiting (Nourishment). Formed by Water (坎 Kǎn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below, this hexagram teaches about waiting (nourishment). The core message: Waiting. If you are sincere, you have light and success. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water..

Key Takeaways

Hexagram 5 is formed by Water (坎 Kǎn) above, Heaven (乾 Qián) below, combining two of the eight trigrams into a unique archetypal situation
The Judgment reveals the hexagram's core teaching through a concise, oracular statement
The six lines trace a progression from initial conditions through to the culmination and outcome
The Image connects the natural symbolism of the trigrams to the conduct of the superior person
This hexagram's wisdom applies to modern situations involving

The Judgment

Waiting. If you are sincere, you have light and success. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.

— I Ching, Waiting (Nourishment)

The Image

Clouds rise up to heaven: the image of Waiting. Thus the superior man eats and drinks, is joyous and of good cheer.

— I Ching, Image

The Six Lines

Line 1: Line 1: Waiting in the meadow. It furthers one to abide in what endures. No blame.

Line 2: Line 2: Waiting on the sand. There is some gossip. The end brings good fortune.

Line 3: Line 3: Waiting in the mud brings about the arrival of the enemy.

Line 4: Line 4: Waiting in blood. Get out of the pit.

Line 5: Line 5: Waiting at meat and drink. Perseverance brings good fortune.

Line 6: Line 6: One falls into the pit. Three uninvited guests arrive. Honor them, and in the end there will be good fortune.

Modern Application

Hexagram 5 teaches the art of patient waiting. Unlike passive inaction, Waiting is active preparation — the farmer who cannot make the rain fall but can till the soil. The hexagram describes progressive stages of waiting: in the meadow (distant threat), on the sand (approaching danger), in the mud (self-inflicted trouble), and in blood (crisis). The wise response is not panic but maintaining inner clarity and good cheer. In modern life, this hexagram applies to waiting for test results, job offers, market conditions, or relationships to mature — any situation where forcing action would be counterproductive. The key is sincerity and perseverance.

Related Guides

Chinese Philosophy Complete Guide

All major schools of Chinese thought

Taoism for Beginners

A practical guide to Taoist philosophy

Confucianism for Beginners

A practical guide to Confucian philosophy

Buddhism for Beginners

A practical guide to Buddhist philosophy

Stoicism for Beginners

A practical guide to start practicing Stoicism