Hexagram 9 · The Taming Power of the Small

小畜 · Xiǎo Chù

Hexagram 9, The Taming Power of the Small (小畜, Xiǎo Chù), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Heaven below and Wind above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “亨。密云不雨，自我西郊。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with gentle restraint and small, steady accumulations. 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: Wind (巽) — gentleness and quiet penetration
Symbol: ䷈ · Name: 小畜 (Xiǎo Chù) · Number: 9 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   复自道，何其咎？吉。
   The Image says: “复自道”，其义“吉”也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   牵复，吉。
   The Image says: “牵复”在中，亦不自失也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   舆说辐，夫妻反目。
   The Image says: “夫妻反目”，不能正室也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   有孚，血去惕出，无咎。
   The Image says: “有孚”“惕出”，上合志也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   有孚挛如，富以其邻。
   The Image says: “有孚挛如”，不独富也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   既雨既处，尚德载；妇贞厉，月几望；君子征凶。
   The Image says: “既雨既处”，“德”积“载”也。“君子征凶”，有所疑也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 9?

Hexagram 9 is The Taming Power of the Small (小畜, Xiǎo Chù), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Heaven below and Wind above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Taming Power of the Small?

The judgment of The Taming Power of the Small reads, in the Chinese original: “亨。密云不雨，自我西郊。”. Its Great Image reads: “风行天上，小畜。君子以懿文德。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Taming Power of the Small symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Taming Power of the Small is associated with gentle restraint and small, steady accumulations. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.