Hexagram 8: Holding Together
比 · Bǐ
Holding Together brings good fortune. Inquire of the oracle once more whether you possess sublimity, constancy and perseverance — then those to whom you turn will flock to you. Latecomers meet misfortune.Judgment 卦辭
On the earth is water: the image of Holding Together. Kings of antiquity bestowed states upon their vassals and maintained friendly relations with neighboring regions.Image 象辭
Core Meaning of Hexagram 8
Hexagram 8 is union — water on plain ground seeping everywhere, joining everything it touches. People and resources naturally cluster around a genuine center. But the hexagram warns against reflexive joining: re-examine your own integrity first, and the worthiness of the center you would attach to. Commitments made late or half-heartedly end badly.
Hexagram 8 in a Reading
In a reading, alliance is the winning move — partnership, community, consolidation. Bond with the right people early and sincerely; the first to commit set the tone. If you are the center, be worthy of the flocking: generous, stable, real. Those who wait on the sidelines to see which way things fall usually find the door closed.
Common Questions
What does hexagram 8 mean?
Hexagram 8 is union — water on plain ground seeping everywhere, joining everything it touches. Read the full meaning above, or cast your own reading with our free online I Ching coins.
What is the structure of hexagram 8?
Hexagram 8 is built from the trigram Water above and Earth below — binary 000010 read from the bottom line to the top. Holding Together is King Wen number 8 of the 64 hexagrams.
Related Hexagrams
Other Hexagrams with Trigram Water Above
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