Hexagram 16: 豫 (yù)
Judgment
利建侯行師。
Yü indicates that, (in the state which it implies), feudal princes may be set up, and the hosts put in motion, with advantage.
Commentary on the judgment (彖傳)
豫，剛應而志行，順以動，豫。豫，順以動，故天地如之，而況建侯行師乎？天地以順動，故日月不過，而四時不忒；聖人以順動，則刑罰清而民服。豫之時義大矣哉！
The image (大象)
雷出地奮，豫。先王以作樂崇德，殷薦之上帝，以配祖考。
The six lines
| Line | Chinese | Legge | Changes to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 – – | 冥豫，成有渝，无咎。 | The topmost line, divided, shows its subject with darkened mind devoted to the pleasure and satisfaction (of the time); but if he change his course even when (it may be considered as) completed, there will be no error. | 35 |
| 5 – – | 貞疾，恆不死。 | The fifth line, divided, shows one with a chronic complaint, but who lives on without dying. | 45 |
| 4 — | 由豫，大有得。勿疑。朋盍戠。 | The fourth line, undivided, shows him from whom the harmony and satisfaction come. Great is the success which he obtains. Let him not allow suspicions to enter his mind, and thus friends will gather around him. | 2 |
| 3 – – | 盱豫，悔。遲有悔。 | The third line, divided, shows one looking up (for favours), while he indulges the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. If he would understand!—If he be late in doing so, there will indeed be occasion for repentance. | 62 |
| 2 – – | 介于石，不終日，貞吉。 | The second line, divided, shows one who is firm as a rock. (He sees a thing) without waiting till it has come to pass; with his firm correctness there will be good fortune. | 40 |
| 1 – – | 鳴豫，凶。 | The first line, divided, shows its subject proclaiming his pleasure and satisfaction. There will be evil. | 51 |
Lines are numbered from the bottom. Each line page shows the line text with its small image commentary; each “changes to” link opens the reading for that changing line.
Related hexagrams
- Inverse (lines in reverse order): hexagram 15
- Opposite (every line changed): hexagram 9 · reading
- Nuclear (lines 2–4 and 3–5): hexagram 39
Legge's notes
XVI. The Yü hexagram denoted to king Wăn a condition of harmony and happy contentment throughout the kingdom, when the people rejoiced in and readily obeyed their sovereign. At such a time his appointments and any military undertakings would be hailed and supported. The fourth line, undivided, is the lord of the figure, and being close to the fifth or place of dignity, is to be looked on as the minister or chief officer of the ruler. The ruler gives to him his confidence; and all represented by the other lines yield their obedience.
Line 1 is weak, and has for its correlate the strong 4. Its subject may well enjoy the happiness of the time. But he cannot contain himself, and proclaims, or boasts of, his satisfaction;—which is evil.
Line 2, though weak, is in its correct position, the centre, moreover, of the lower trigram. Quietly and firmly its subject is able to abide in his place, and exercise a far-seeing discrimination. All is indicative of good fortune.
Line 3 is weak, and in an odd place. Immediately below line 4, its subject keeps looking up to the lord of the figure, and depends on him, thinking of doing nothing, but how to enjoy himself. The consequence will be as described, unless he speedily change.
The strong subject of line 4 is the agent to whom the happy condition is owing; and it is only necessary to caution him to maintain his confidence in himself and his purpose, and his adherents and success will continue.
Line 5 is in the ruler's place; but it is weak, and he is in danger of being carried away by the lust of pleasure. Moreover, proximity to the powerful minister represented by 4 is a source of danger. Hence he is represented as suffering from a chronic complaint, but nevertheless he does not die. See Appendix II on the line.
Line 6, at the very top or end of the hexagram, is weak, and its subject is all but lost. Still even for him there is a chance of safety, if he will but change.
English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. 16 (1882) — public domain. Chinese: Zhou Yi from Chinese Wikisource.
Character glossary
- 利lìgains, advantage, profit, merit
- 建jiànto build, to erect; to establish, to fou
- 侯hóumarquis, lord; target in archery
- 行xíngto go, to walk, to move; professional
- 師shīteacher, professional, master
- 鳴mínga bird call or animal cry; to make a sou
- 豫yùrelaxed; hesitant
- 凶xiōngculprit; murder; bad, sad
- 介jièagent, go-between, intermediary; to intr
- 于yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 石shístone, rock, mineral
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 終zhōngend; finally, in the end
- 日rìsun; day; daytime
- 貞zhēnvirtuous, chaste, pure; loyal
- 吉jílucky, propitious, good
- 盱xūeyes wide open; to gaze in astonishment
- 悔huǐto regret, to repent, to show remorse
- 遲chítardy, slow, late; to delay
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 由yóucause, reason; from
- 大dàbig, great, vast, high, deep
- 得déto obtain, to get, to acquire; suitable,
- 勿wùmust not, do not; without, never
- 疑yíto doubt, to question, to suspect
- 朋péngfriend, pal, acquaintance
- 盍héwhat? why not?
- 戠zhīsword; potter's clay; to gather
- 疾jísickness, illness, disease; to envy, to
- 恆héngconstant, persistent, regular
- 死sǐdead; death; impassable, inflexible
- 冥míngdark, gloomy, night; deep
- 成chéngto accomplish; to become; to complete, t
- 渝yúto change; Chongqing
- 无wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 咎jiùfault, defect; error, mistake
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.