☯️ 比 (Bǐ) - Holding Together
Holding Together brings good fortune. Inquire of the oracle once again whether you possess sublimity, constancy, and perseverance; then there is no blame. - On the earth is water: the image of Holding Together. Thus the kings of antiquity bestowed the different states as fiefs and cultivated friendly relations with the feudal lords.
Verses
Verse 1
比，吉。原筮元永貞，無咎
bǐ, jí. yuán shì yuán yǒng zhēn, wú jiù
Holding Together brings good fortune. Inquire of the oracle once again whether you possess sublimity, constancy, and perseverance; then there is no blame.
Verse 2
初六：有孚比之，無咎
chū liù: yǒu fú bǐ zhī, wú jiù
Six at the beginning: Hold to him in truth and loyalty; this is without blame. Truth, like a full earthen bowl; thus in the end good fortune comes from without.
Verse 3
六二：比之自內，貞吉
liù èr: bǐ zhī zì nèi, zhēn jí
Six in the second place: Hold to him inwardly. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Verse 4
六三：比之匪人
liù sān: bǐ zhī fěi rén
Six in the third place: You hold together with the wrong people.
Verse 5
六四：外比之，貞吉
liù sì: wài bǐ zhī, zhēn jí
Six in the fourth place: Hold to him outwardly also. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Verse 6
九五：顯比，王用三驅
jiǔ wǔ: xiǎn bǐ, wáng yòng sān qū
Nine in the fifth place: Manifestation of holding together. In the hunt the king uses beaters on three sides only and foregoes game that runs off in front.
Verse 7
上六：比之無首，凶
shàng liù: bǐ zhī wú shǒu, xiōng
Six at the top: Holding together without a head. Misfortune.