Small Taming (Xiǎo Chù)

Judgment

小畜：亨。密云不雨，自我西郊。

Plain Meaning：Small restraint yet success; dense clouds without rain—force gathered but not yet released.

Image (Great Commentary)

风行天上，小畜；君子以懿文德。

Line Texts

• 初九复自道，何其咎，吉。

  Return to your own path—what blame? Fortune.

• 九二牵复，吉。

  Drawn back to the path—fortune.

• 九三舆说辐，夫妻反目。

  The wagon loses its spokes; husband and wife quarrel—discord.

• 六四有孚，血去惕出，无咎。

  With sincerity, harm departs and fear leaves—no blame.

• 九五有孚挛如，富以其邻。

  Bound by sincerity, sharing wealth with neighbors.

• 上九既雨既处，尚德载，妇贞厉。月几望，君子征凶。

  Rain has come and settled; virtue is full. Near the full moon, further campaigning brings misfortune.

Symbolism

Wind over heaven: gentle, gradual accumulation.

Life Lesson

When power is small, cultivate virtue and accumulate gradually.

Modern Application

A phase of buildup: refine skills and ties; avoid forcing quick results.

Words of Caution

Clouds without rain: acting before conditions ripen yields nothing.