44. Coming to Meet

Judgment

姤：女壮，勿用取女。

The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden. A single yin enters beneath five yang: it looks weak but its momentum is strong—never underestimate it.

Image

天下有风，姤；后以施命诰四方。

Under heaven, wind: the image of coming to meet. The prince acts when disseminating his commands and proclaiming them to the four quarters of heaven.

Lines

1. Line 1, yin (six)

   初六：系于金柅，贞吉。有攸往，见凶，羸豕孚蹢躅。

   It must be checked with a brake of bronze. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune. Even a lean pig has it in him to rage around. Brake immediately when small risks appear.

2. Line 2, yang (nine)

   九二：包有鱼，无咎，不利宾。

   There is a fish in the tank. No blame. Does not further guests. Control key resources; don't let them leak.

3. Line 3, yang (nine)

   九三：臀无肤，其行次且，厉，无大咎。

   There is no skin on his thighs, and walking comes hard. If one is mindful of the danger, no great mistake is made. Caution amid hesitation.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：包无鱼，起凶。

   No fish in the tank. This leads to misfortune. Acting after losing your base—clients, staff—is dangerous.

5. Line 5, yang (nine)

   九五：以杞包瓜，含章，有陨自天。

   A melon covered with willow leaves. Hidden lines. Then it drops down to one from heaven. Master sudden change with tolerance and inner quality.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：姤其角，吝，无咎。

   He comes to meet with his horns. Humiliation. No blame. Arrogance turns an encounter into a clash—no great harm.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of unexpected opportunities, new entrants and early risk signals: sudden partnership offers, new competitors, tempting acquisitions, early social-media issues. 'The maiden is powerful': small new things can have great disruptive force (cf. disruptive innovation).

Psychological lens

Resonates with availability bias and self-control under temptation; line 1 is the logic of pre-commitment (the Ulysses contract).

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• A new entrant looks weak Enterprise, Judgment
• Protecting IP across borders Enterprise, Line 2, yang (nine)
• A key person leaves the project Enterprise, Line 4, yang (nine)
• Negative social-media buzz Enterprise, Line 1, yin (six)
• Impulse spending Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.