Hexagram 5
Xu - Waiting (Nourishment)
需
Meaning and Overview
The Hexagram of Waiting (Xu) discusses the Way of eating and drinking. The hexagram statement does not directly reveal this Way; 'Favorable to cross the great river' suggests fishing in the great river, which may relate to food and drink. In the line statements, the fifth line says 'Waiting with wine and food,' clearly a matter of eating and drinking. The top line says 'Three uninvited guests arrive; if you respect them, in the end good fortune,' and treating guests respectfully naturally involves offering wine and food. The Great Image says 'The noble one uses eating and drinking to feast and enjoy,' suggesting that feasting and enjoyment involve entertaining guests. In the Rites of Zhou, there are many kinds of beverages, primarily including wine; beverages nourish the yang, as wine and such are yang in nature. Food refers to grains and dishes, which nourish the yin. In the rites of banquets, music nourishes yang, while ritual nourishes yin. From the eating and drinking in the Hexagram of Waiting, we can see that over three thousand years ago, the Chinese already knew that nurturing life involves both nourishing yin and nourishing yang, with emphasis on nourishing yang. In the Way of ritual and music, they complement each other, and both serve the great purposes of nurturing life and governing the state.
Chinese Interpretation
《需》卦谈论的是饮食之道，卦辞里面看不出饮食之道来，“利涉大川”，大河里面可以捕鱼，可能和饮食有关。爻辞里面，九五爻说“需于酒食”，明显就是饮食之事了。上六爻说“有不速之客三人来，敬之，终吉”，敬待客人，当然要酒食相待了。大象辞说“君子以饮食宴乐”，宴乐饮食似乎是招待客人。饮食中的饮料，在《周礼》里面有许多种，当然主要包括酒，饮是养阳的，因为酒等饮料属阳。食是指食物，饭食是养阴的。宴会之礼，乐则养阳，礼则养阴。由《需》卦的饮食宴乐可以看出来，中国人3000年以前早就知道养生是包括养阴与养阳两个方面的，尤其以养阳为主。礼乐之道中，礼乐相须为用，礼乐亦具养生治国之大用。
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.
有孚，光亨，贞吉，利涉大川。
有孚，光亨，贞吉，利涉大川。 下卦三乾阳与上卦九五互相信任，前途光明亨通，处事公正，吉祥，利于渡河捕鱼。
Having sincerity, radiant and prosperous, steadfast and auspicious, favorable to cross the great river.
Having sincerity, radiant and prosperous, steadfast and auspicious, favorable to cross the great river. The three yang lines of the lower trigram and the fifth line of the upper trigram trust each other; the future is bright and prosperous, conduct is just, auspicious, favorable for crossing the river to fish.
初九，需于郊，利用恒，无咎。
初九爻，去郊野准备猎获禽兽，等待时机，持之以恒地遵守路祭礼，不会有过错。
First nine: Waiting in the outskirts. It is favorable to use constancy. No blame.
First nine line: Going to the outskirts to prepare for hunting animals, waiting for the right moment, persistently observing the road sacrifice ritual, there will be no fault.
九二，需于沙，小有言，终吉。
九二爻，在河边沙地上准备着钓鱼或用网捕鱼，虽然遭到别人指责，最终结果是吉祥的。
Second nine: Waiting on the sand. There is some small talk. In the end, good fortune.
Second nine line: Preparing to fish or net fish on the sandy riverbank, though criticized by others, the final outcome is auspicious.
九三，需于泥，致寇至。
九三爻，在泥水田里收割粮食要谨慎小心，要防止寇盗来抢夺。如果不谨慎不小心，会招来敌寇侵害。
Third nine: Waiting in the mud. It brings the arrival of robbers.
Third nine line: Harvesting grain in muddy fields requires caution; one must guard against robbers coming to plunder. If not careful, it will invite enemy attack.
六四，需于血，出自穴。
六四爻，宰杀禽兽，从地穴中取出祭品。
Fourth six: Waiting in blood. Coming out of the cave.
Fourth six line: Slaughtering animals, taking out the offerings from the cave.
九五，需于酒食，贞吉。
九五爻，在酒食宴享中，谨守中正之道则吉祥。
Fifth nine: Waiting with wine and food. Steadfastness brings good fortune.
Fifth nine line: In feasting with wine and food, adhering to the way of centrality and correctness brings good fortune.
上六，入于穴，有不速之客三人来，敬之，终吉。
上六爻，进入地穴，有不请自来的三位客人，恭敬待之，最终吉祥。
Top six: Entering the cave. There are three uninvited guests arriving. If you respect them, in the end, good fortune.
Top six line: Entering the cave, three uninvited guests arrive. Treat them with respect, and in the end, good fortune.