Xiao Xu 風天小畜
A time to build up small things
This is a period for collecting small things rather than big results. It feels slow, but it adds up if you wait.
What does I Ching hexagram 9 (Small Taming) mean?
Wind gathering small amounts of strength above the sky. It is not great power, but a time to collect small things and wait.
- Small Taming in love
- No big leap, but small acts of care are adding up.
- Small Taming at work and with money
- Stack up small results one after another and avoid overexpanding.
- Advice
- Gather small things steadily and you will have a large vessel.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Small Taming
No blame“Success. Dense clouds but no rain, from our western border.”
The Image: Wind moves across the sky: small taming. The noble person refines the outward virtues.
原文 · 亨。密雲不雨，自我西郊。 / 風行天上，小畜，君子以懿文德。
The six lines of hexagram 9
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初九
No blame“Returning by one’s own path; how could there be blame? Good fortune.”
Return to your own way and all is well.
原文 · 復自道，何其咎，吉。
Line 2 · 九二
Auspicious“Led back: good fortune.”
Following a good example back to the right path is lucky.
原文 · 牽復，吉。
Line 3 · 九三
Neutral“The cart loses its axle straps; husband and wife look away from each other.”
Forcing your way ahead breaks the fit. Take care of close relationships.
原文 · 車說輹，夫妻反目。
Line 4 · 六四
No blame“Sincerity: the blood departs and the fear is gone; no blame.”
Honest effort resolves a dangerous situation and the fear lifts.
原文 · 有孚，血去惕出，无咎。
Line 5 · 九五
Neutral“Sincerity that binds closely, sharing wealth with one’s neighbors.”
Share what you have with those around you and it strengthens you all.
原文 · 有孚攣如，富以其鄰。
Line 6 · 上九
Misfortune“The rain has come and the rest has come; one can still carry the load, but the woman’s persistence is dangerous. The moon is nearly full; for the noble person, advancing brings misfortune.”
You’ve achieved what you could. Don’t push on further; hold what you have.
原文 · 既雨既處，尚得載，婦貞厲，月幾望，君子征凶。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 16. Yu (Enthusiasm)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 10. Lu (Treading)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.