Hexagram 9 · ䷈
Small restraint and gradual accumulation bring progress, but the full release has not yet come. The clouds gather, yet the rain still holds back.
Judgment
Small restraint and gradual accumulation bring progress, but the full release has not yet come. The clouds gather, yet the rain still holds back.
Image
Wind moving across heaven suggests influence that accumulates little by little. The noble person uses this time to refine outward conduct and cultivate graceful virtue.
Lines
Returning to the proper way brings no blame. Returning together to the proper way brings good fortune. The wagon's spokes come loose. Husband and wife turn their eyes away from one...
Success. Dense clouds, no rain from our western outskirts.
Small restraint and gradual accumulation bring progress, but the full release has not yet come. The clouds gather, yet the rain still holds back.
The yielding finds its place, and the above and below correspond to it, hence Small Accumulation. Strong and gentle, the firm is in the center and its will is carried out, hence success. Dense clouds but no rain indicates movement still upward. From our western border indicates that the influence has not yet spread.
This hexagram is about a small force gradually restraining and shaping a stronger one. Progress is possible, but influence is still limited and has not yet spread far enough to bring full effect.
Wind blowing across heaven: the image of Small Accumulation. The noble person improves the outward appearance of his virtue.
Wind moving across heaven suggests influence that accumulates little by little. The noble person uses this time to refine outward conduct and cultivate graceful virtue.
Return to the way. No blame.
Returning to the proper way brings no blame.
Small Image
He returns to the way, thus creating no blame for himself.
Returning to the way means one does not lose oneself.
Reversion to the way. Good fortune! Let him lead the way, and the household is united.
Returning together to the proper way brings good fortune.
Small Image
Reversion to the way brings good fortune, because the yielding occupies the central place.
Returning together to the way is good because the central position is present.
The spokes burst from the wheels of the wagon. Husband and wife roll their eyes.
The wagon's spokes come loose. Husband and wife turn their eyes away from one another.
Small Image
Husband and wife roll their eyes. They cannot maintain their house in order.
Husband and wife turn their eyes away because the household cannot be set in order.
Possession of sincerity wards off difficulties. No blame.
If there is sincerity, blood departs and fear goes out. No blame.
Small Image
Possession of sincerity wards off difficulties. The will is set free from doubt.
When fear departs through sincerity, the will is freed from doubt.
Sincerity to him that possesses it. Enriched by his neighbor on all sides. Danger, but no blame.
There is sincerity and mutual trust. One is enriched through the neighbor.
Small Image
Enriched by his neighbor on all sides. Yet he does not indeed pass beyond his place.
Being enriched through the neighbor means one does not stand alone.
The rain has come, there is rest. This is due to the lasting effect of character. Though the wife carries danger within herself, she will have no cause for remorse at the end of a year.
The rain comes, and there is rest. This is due to the lasting power of character. If the woman persists, there is danger. The moon is nearly full. The noble person should not proceed. There will be misfortune.
Small Image
The rain has come, there is rest. This is due to the lasting effect of character.
The rain comes and there is rest because virtue has accumulated and reached effect.
What does Hsiao Ch'u / The Taming Power of the Small mean in the I Ching?
Small restraint and gradual accumulation bring progress, but the full release has not yet come. The clouds gather, yet the rain still holds back.
How should I study Hexagram 9 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Returning to the proper way brings no blame. Returning together to the proper way brings good fortune. The wagon's spokes come loose. Husband and wife turn their eyes away from one...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
This hexagram is about a small force gradually restraining and shaping a stronger one. Progress is possible, but influence is still limited and has not yet spread far enough to bring full effect.
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.