Hexagram 5

Waiting (Xū)

Upper Trigram Kan (Water) · Lower Trigram Qian (Heaven)

Judgment

需：有孚，光亨，贞吉。利涉大川。

Plain Meaning：Waiting with sincerity brings light and success; steadfastness is auspicious—it profits to cross the great water.

Image (Great Commentary)

云上于天，需；君子以饮食宴乐。

Line Texts

初九需于郊，利用恒，无咎。
Waiting in the meadow—persevere; no blame.
九二需于沙，小有言，终吉。
Waiting on the sand—minor talk, but ends well.
九三需于泥，致寇至。
Waiting in the mud invites attack.
六四需于血，出自穴。
Waiting in blood—escape from the pit.
九五需于酒食，贞吉。
Waiting amid wine and food—steadfastness brings fortune.
上六入于穴，有不速之客三人来，敬之终吉。
Entering the pit; three uninvited guests come—honor them, and it ends well.

Symbolism

Clouds gathering in the sky: waiting for the right moment.

Life Lesson

When the time is not ripe, wait calmly and sincerely.

Modern Application

Await opportunities patiently; prepare rather than force.

Words of Caution

Waiting in the wrong place invites trouble.

Cast a Mei Hua divination

The opposite hexagram flips every line, the reverse turns it upside down, and the nuclear hides in the inner lines — read them side by side for a fuller picture.

Opposite (Cuo)

Progress (Jìn)Hexagram 35 Reverse (Zong)

Conflict (Sòng)Hexagram 6 Nuclear (Hu)

Opposition (Kuí)Hexagram 38