Hexagram 5 · Waiting

需 · Xū

Hexagram 5, Waiting (需, Xū), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Heaven below and Water above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “有孚，光亨，贞吉，利涉大川。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with patient waiting and nourishment in due time. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Heaven (乾) — creative strength and initiative
Upper trigram: Water (坎) — depth, danger and constancy in flow
Symbol: ䷄ · Name: 需 (Xū) · Number: 5 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   需于郊，利用恒，无咎。
   The Image says: “需于郊”，不犯难行也；“利用恒，无咎”，未失常也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   需于沙，小有言；终吉。
   The Image says: “需于沙”，衍在中也；虽“小有言”，以“吉”“终”也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   需于泥，致寇至。
   The Image says: “需于泥”，灾在外也；自我“致寇”，敬慎不败也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   需于血，出自穴。
   The Image says: “需于血”，顺以听也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   需于酒食，贞吉。
   The Image says: “酒食，贞吉”，以中正也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   入于穴，有不速之客三人来；敬之，终吉。
   The Image says: “不速之客”来，“敬之，终吉”，虽不当位，未大失也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 5?

Hexagram 5 is Waiting (需, Xū), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Heaven below and Water above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Waiting?

The judgment of Waiting reads, in the Chinese original: “有孚，光亨，贞吉，利涉大川。”. Its Great Image reads: “云上于天，需。君子以饮食宴乐。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Waiting symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Waiting is associated with patient waiting and nourishment in due time. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.