Classical Text 古典文獻 · I Ching 易經
Hexagram 8 — Water over Earth (水地比) - Holding Together
比
Upper Canon 上經
Hexagram Symbol & Trigrams
卦象與八卦
Judgment
卦辭
比：吉。原筮元永貞，無咎。不寧方來，後夫凶。
Holding Together brings good fortune. Inquire of the oracle once again whether you possess sublimity, constancy, and perseverance.
Image
象傳
象曰：地上有水，比；先王以建萬國，親諸侯。
On the earth is water: the image of Holding Together. Thus the kings of antiquity made the individual states feel bound to them.
Interpretation
詮釋
比卦象徵親近與團結。水在地上，水乳交融。暗示著需要與他人建立聯繫，共同合作，但要及時加入。
Union and solidarity. Water on the earth. Suggests the importance of establishing connections and cooperation, emphasizing timely alignment.
Six Lines
爻辭
Six at the beginning
初六
有孚比之，無咎。有孚盈缶，終來有它吉。
Hold to him in truth and loyalty; this is without blame. Truth, like a full earthen bowl—thus in the end good fortune comes from without.
以誠信親近他人，無咎。真誠滿溢終有外來之福。
Approach others with sincerity, no blame. Overflowing truth eventually brings fortune from outside sources.
Six in the second place
六二
比之自內，貞吉。
Hold to him inwardly. Perseverance brings good fortune.
從內心真誠親近，守正則吉。內在連結最為牢固。
Connect from the heart with sincerity. Maintaining correctness brings fortune. Inner bonds are strongest.
Six in the third place
六三
比之匪人。
You hold together with the wrong people.
親近非其人。與不適合的對象結盟是不吉的。
Associating with the wrong people. Allying with unsuitable partners is inauspicious.
Six in the fourth place
六四
外比之，貞吉。
Hold to him outwardly also. Perseverance brings good fortune.
對外公開親近，守正則吉。公開表態建立關係。
Openly show allegiance. Maintaining correctness brings fortune. Publicly establish relationships.
Nine in the fifth place
九五
顯比，王用三驅，失前禽，邑人不誡，吉。
Manifestation of holding together. The king uses beaters on three sides only and foregoes game that runs off in front. The citizens need no warning. Good fortune.
公開親附。君王三面驅趕獵物，放走前方逃走者。民眾自然歸附無需強迫，吉。
Open alliance. The king drives game from three sides, letting those ahead escape. People come willingly without coercion. Fortune.
Six at the top
上六
比之無首，凶。
He finds no head for holding together. Misfortune.
親附卻無領導核心，凶。猶豫不決錯失良機。
Seeking alliance but with no leader. Misfortune. Hesitation causes missed opportunities.
Source: I Ching (易經), Hexagram 8