小畜
9. The Taming Power of the Small
xiǎo chù; Small accumulation
Judgment
小畜：亨。密云不雨，自我西郊。
Success. Dense clouds, no rain from our western region. Conditions are not yet ripe: accumulate in small ways.
Image
风行天上，小畜；君子以懿文德。
The wind drives across heaven: the image of the taming power of the small. The noble person refines the outward aspect of their character.
Lines
- Line 1, yang (nine)
初九：复自道，何其咎，吉。
Return to the way—how could there be blame? Good fortune. Notice the drift, return to the main course.
- Line 2, yang (nine)
九二：牵复，吉。
He allows himself to be drawn into returning: good fortune. Let peers help you correct course.
- Line 3, yang (nine)
九三：舆说辐，夫妻反目。
The spokes burst out of the wagon wheels; man and wife roll their eyes. Internal discord stalls progress.
- Line 4, yin (six)
六四：有孚，血去惕出，无咎。
If you are sincere, blood vanishes and fear gives way—no blame. Trust dissolves tension.
- Line 5, yang (nine)
九五：有孚挛如，富以其邻。
Sincere and loyally attached, you are rich in your neighbour. Those who share resources grow together.
- Line 6, yang (nine)
上九：既雨既处，尚德载，妇贞厉。月几望，君子征凶。
The rain comes, there is rest; virtue accumulates. But the moon is nearly full: if the noble person persists, misfortune. After small success, know when to stop.
In the enterprise
The hexagram of small accumulation, incremental improvement and 'the small taming the great': lean improvements under resource limits, soft-power building, gathering strength while big goals are blocked.
Psychological lens
Resonates with Karl Weick's 'small wins': visible incremental progress sustains motivation where oversized goals trigger abandonment.
Related hexagrams
38. 睽 Opposition
Lines 2–4 and 3–5: the hidden dynamics inside the situation.Opposite
16. 豫 Enthusiasm
Every line reversed: the shadow side and blind spots.Inverse
10. 履 Treading
The figure turned upside down: the counterpart's or stakeholder's view.King Wen pair
10. 履 Treading
Situations in the library that use this hexagram
- A divided executive team Enterprise, Line 3, yang (nine)
- Building momentum with quick wins Enterprise, Judgment
- Co-innovating with suppliers Enterprise, Line 5, yang (nine)
- Disagreement between partners Individuals, Line 3, yang (nine)
- The temptation to scale too fast Individuals, Line 6, yang (nine)
- A relationship that feels stuck Individuals, Line 4, yin (six)
- Money in marriage Individuals, Line 5, yang (nine)
- Starting to save Individuals, Judgment
- Whether to buy a second property Individuals, Line 6, yang (nine)
Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.