Hexagram 17 · Following

随 · Suí

Hexagram 17, Following (随, Suí), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Thunder below and Lake above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “元亨，利贞，无咎。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with following well, and adapting to the time. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Upper trigram: Lake (兑) — joy and open exchange
Symbol: ䷐ · Name: 随 (Suí) · Number: 17 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   官有渝，贞吉；出门交有功。
   The Image says: “官有渝”，从正“吉”也；“出门交有功”，不失也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   系小子，失丈夫。
   The Image says: “系小子”，弗兼与也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   系丈夫，失小子；随有求得，利居贞。
   The Image says: “系丈夫”，志舍下也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   随有获，贞凶；有孚在道，以明，何咎？
   The Image says: “随有获”，其义“凶”也；“有孚在道”，明功也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   孚于嘉，吉。
   The Image says: “孚于嘉，吉”，位正中也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   拘系之，乃从维之；王用亨于西山。
   The Image says: “拘系之”，上穷也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 17?

Hexagram 17 is Following (随, Suí), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Thunder below and Lake above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Following?

The judgment of Following reads, in the Chinese original: “元亨，利贞，无咎。”. Its Great Image reads: “泽中有雷，随。君子以向晦入宴息。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Following symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Following is associated with following well, and adapting to the time. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.