Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 5 — Water over Heaven (水天需) - Waiting
需
Upper Canon 上經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
需：有孚，光亨，貞吉。利涉大川。
Waiting. If you are sincere, you have light and success. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Image
象傳
象曰：雲上於天，需；君子以飲食宴樂。
Clouds rise up to heaven: the image of Waiting. Thus the superior man eats and drinks, and is of good cheer.
Interpretation
詮釋
需卦象徵等待時機。雲在天上，雨尚未落下。暗示著在行動前需要積蓄力量，保持誠信與耐心。
Waiting for the right time. Clouds are in the sky, but rain hasn't fallen. Suggests gathering strength and maintaining sincerity before acting.
Six Lines
爻辭
Nine at the beginning
初九
需於郊，利用恆，無咎。
Waiting in the meadow. It furthers one to abide in what endures. No blame.
在郊外等待，保持恆心則無咎。尚未進入險境，從容準備。
Waiting in the outskirts with perseverance brings no blame. Not yet in danger, prepare calmly.
Nine in the second place
九二
需於沙，小有言，終吉。
Waiting on the sand. There is some gossip. The end brings good fortune.
在沙灘等待，稍有閒言碎語，但最終吉祥。靠近險境需謹慎。
Waiting on the sand, there's some gossip, but the end is fortunate. Approaching danger requires caution.
Nine in the third place
九三
需於泥，致寇至。
Waiting in the mud brings about the arrival of the enemy.
在泥濘中等待，招致敵人來襲。已陷入險境，需極度小心。
Waiting in the mud invites danger. Already in a perilous situation, extreme caution is needed.
Six in the fourth place
六四
需於血，出自穴。
Waiting in blood. Get out of the pit.
身處血腥險境，但能脫離陷阱。順應形勢可以化險為夷。
In a bloody dangerous situation, but can escape the trap. Adapting to circumstances turns danger into safety.
Nine in the fifth place
九五
需於酒食，貞吉。
Waiting at meat and drink. Perseverance brings good fortune.
在宴飲中等待，守正則吉。享受平和時光，保持德行。
Waiting amid food and drink, maintaining correctness brings fortune. Enjoy peaceful times while preserving virtue.
Six at the top
上六
入於穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。
One falls into the pit. Three uninvited guests arrive. Honor them, and in the end there will be good fortune.
落入陷阱，不速之客到來。以禮相待則終得吉祥。
Falling into a pit, unexpected guests arrive. Treating them with respect brings good fortune in the end.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 5