Hexagram 1 乾, Use of nines
乾
Hexagram 1 · all lines
見羣龍无首，吉。
(The lines of this hexagram are all strong and undivided, as appears from) the use of the number nine. If the host of dragons (thus) appearing were to divest themselves of their heads, there would be good fortune.
James Legge (1882), public domain.
Small image (小象)
用九，天德不可為首也。
← Hexagram 1 乾: judgment and all lines
Character glossary
- 見jiànto see, to observe, to meet, to appear
- 羣qúngroup, crowd, multitude, mob
- 龍lóngdragon; symbol of the emperor
- 无wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 首shǒuchief, head, leader
- 吉jílucky, propitious, good
- 用yòngto use, to employ, to apply; use
- 九jiǔnine
- 天tiānsky, heaven; god, celestial
- 德déethics, morality; compassion, kindness
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 為wèito do, to act; to handle, to govern; to
- 也yěalso, too
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.