Hexagram 45
Cui - Gathering Together
萃
Meaning and Overview
The hexagram Gathering Together has the upper trigram Dui (Lake) and the lower trigram Kun (Earth). With earth and water, all things naturally grow luxuriantly, and people naturally gather in communities. Where people gather, there will be faith and sacrificial activities. The people assemble to participate in the king's ancestral temple ceremony. The entire hexagram is related to sacrifice. The hexagram statement says: 'Success. The king approaches his ancestral temple. It is favorable to see the great person. Success and perseverance are favorable. Using a great sacrificial animal brings good fortune. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.' From the statement, the king goes to the ancestral temple to perform the sacrifice to ancestors. Using oxen, sheep, pigs and other large animals for sacrifice is auspicious. The six line texts all discuss the sacrificial ceremony. The first line says that at the beginning there is sincerity, but it is not carried through, and the will is not unified. If one calls out loudly, they will gather and go forward together without fault. The second line says that according to the regular seasonal sacrifices, with sincerity, performing the summer sacrifice will naturally be auspicious. The third line says going forward to participate in the sacrifice brings no mistake. The fourth line says participating in the sacrifice brings great good fortune. The fifth line occupies the central and correct position, acting as the main sacrificer in the entire ceremony, thus it says: 'Gathering together in position, no fault.' The top line is a yin line above a yang line, suggesting the pressure on the king. Therefore, the top line is uneasy, weeping and wailing, but still without fault. Looking at the entire hexagram, none of the lines are inauspicious, and there are two auspicious lines (second and fourth). Thus, the hexagram specifically discusses the issue of ancestral sacrifice and can be considered a relatively good hexagram.
Chinese Interpretation
《萃》卦上卦为兑为泽，下卦为坤为地，有地、有水，万物自然会生长茂盛，民众自然会聚集群居，有人群聚居就会有信仰，就会有祭祀活动。国民集聚起来，是为了参与君王去祖庙祭祀祖先的祭典。《萃》卦整个卦都与祭祀有关。卦辞说：“亨，王假有庙，利见大人，亨利贞。用大牲，吉，利有攸往。”从卦辞看，是君王前往宗庙举行祭祀祖先的祭典。用牛、羊、猪等大牲来祭祀，吉祥。六爻爻辞都是围绕祭祀典礼而讨论，初六爻说开始有诚信，但没有贯彻始终，意志不统一，如果大声号召，就会集聚起来，一起前行，不会有过错。六二爻说按照四时祭祀常典，有诚信，在夏季举行祭，当然会吉祥。六三爻前行参加祭祀，不会有错。九四爻参加祭祀，大吉。九五爻居中正之位，在整个祭祀活动中是主祭者身份，因此说：“萃有位，无咎。”上六爻是阴爻居于阳爻之上，有逼迫君王之嫌，因此，上六不安，痛哭流涕，也不会有过错。从整个《萃》卦来看，没有一个爻是凶爻，且有六二、九四两个吉爻，因此，《萃》卦专门谈论祭祀祖先问题，也算一个比较好的卦。
Line Interpretations
These passages include the core hexagram statement, the six moving line texts, and traditional commentary where available. Read them as layered guidance: the early lines describe the root of the situation, while later lines reveal development, pressure, and outcome.
亨，王假有庙，利见大人，亨利贞。用大牲，吉，利有攸往。
亨通，君王去祖庙祭祀，利于见到地位尊贵的大人物，亨通，有利，坚守正道。用大牛作为牺牲祭品去祭祀，吉祥，利于前行。
Success. The king approaches his ancestral temple. It is favorable to see the great person. Success and perseverance are favorable. Using a great sacrificial animal brings good fortune. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
Success. The king goes to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifice. It is favorable to see a person of high status. Success, benefit, and perseverance in the correct path. Using a large ox as a sacrificial offering brings good fortune and is favorable for proceeding forward.
初六，有孚不终，乃乱乃萃；若号，一握为笑，勿恤，往无咎。
初六爻，有诚信，却不能够坚持到底，有诚信时就聚集拢来，失去诚信时就混乱开来。如果以诚信相号召，奔走呼号，大家就会笑容满面地聚集拢来，一起握手。不用忧虑，往前行动，不会有咎害。
First six: Having sincerity but not to the end, now confusion, now gathering. If one calls out, a handful becomes laughter. Do not worry. Going forward brings no fault.
First yin line: Having sincerity but unable to persist to the end—when sincere, they gather; when sincerity is lost, they scatter in confusion. If one calls out with sincerity, running and shouting, everyone will gather with smiling faces and shake hands. Do not worry. Moving forward brings no harm.
六二，引吉，无咎。孚乃利用禴。
六二爻，有人援引，吉祥，不会有咎害。只要诚心诚意，在举行春祭或夏祭时，祭品虽不丰盛，也会有利。
Six second: Led forward brings good fortune, no fault. Sincerity is then favorable for the summer sacrifice.
Second yin line: Being led forward brings good fortune and no fault. As long as there is sincere intention, even if the offerings are not abundant during the spring or summer sacrifice, it will still be favorable.
六三，萃如嗟如，无攸利；往无咎，小吝。
六三爻，聚集起来，嗟叹不已，不会有什么利益。往前行动，不会有祸害，会有小小的遗憾。
Six third: Gathering together yet sighing, nothing favorable. Going forward brings no fault, but a small regret.
Third yin line: Gathering together but sighing incessantly—there is no benefit. Moving forward brings no disaster, but there will be a small regret.
九四，大吉，无咎。
九四爻，大为吉祥，不会有咎害。
Nine fourth: Great good fortune, no fault.
Fourth yang line: Great good fortune, no harm.
九五，萃有位，无咎，匪孚；元永贞，悔亡。
九五爻，聚集之时，居于君王之位，不会有祸害，诚信还不能够感化所有人。正本清源，始终保持中正之道，悔恨就会消失。
Nine fifth: Gathering together in position, no fault. Not yet sincere. Perseverance in the primal and enduring, regret vanishes.
Fifth yang line: At the time of gathering, occupying the king's position—no harm. Sincerity has not yet transformed everyone. By rectifying the source and always maintaining the central and correct path, regret will disappear.
上六，赍咨涕洟，无咎。
上六爻，嗟叹哀伤，痛哭流涕，不会有咎害。
Top six: Sighing and weeping, no fault.
Top yin line: Sighing in sorrow, weeping bitterly—no harm.