Hexagram 44

Gòu / Coming to Meet

姤 — Encounter
Upper: Heaven (乾) ☰  |  Lower: Wind (巽) ☴

Basic Information

AttributeDetails
Chinese Name姤 (Gòu)
English NameComing to Meet / Encounter
TrigramsHeaven over Wind (乾上巽下)
Number44 of 64

The Text (Yijing Classic)

Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)

Coming to Meet. The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden.

The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)

Under heaven, wind: the image of Coming to Meet. Thus does the prince act when disseminating his commands and proclaiming them to the four quarters of heaven.

The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)

LinePositionTextInterpretation
初六BottomIt must be checked with a brake of bronze. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune.Steady commitment leads to success
九二2ndThere is a fish in the tank. No blame. Does not further guests.Acceptable situation; no error in this approach
九三3rdThere is no skin on his thighs, and walking comes hard. If one is mindful of the danger, no great mistake is made.Awareness of risk is itself protective
九四4thNo fish in the tank. This leads to misfortune.Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint
九五5thA melon covered with willow leaves. Hidden lines. Then it drops down to one from heaven.Reflect carefully on the situation before acting
上九TopHe comes to meet with his horns. Humiliation. No blame.Acceptable situation; no error in this approach

Core Meanings

Essence (本质)

  • An unexpected encounter with a powerful force; be vigilant against corruption
  • Upper trigram Heaven (creative and strong) over lower trigram Wind (gentle and penetrating)
  • Embodies the qualities of encounter, temptation, influence and vigilance, seduction, awareness

Keywords

EncounterTemptationInfluenceVigilanceSeductionAwareness

Divination & Prediction

★★☆☆☆Caution Advised
AspectPrediction
OverallChallenging period requiring patience. An unexpected encounter with a powerful force; be vigilant against corruption Preserve your strength through seduction and awareness.
TimingNot the time for bold initiatives. Consolidate and wait.
ChallengeThe temptation to force progress will backfire. Practice vigilance.

Applications in Life

Business & Career

In business, this hexagram counsels encounter and temptation. The Heaven trigram above suggests creative and strong energy in your outer dealings, while the Wind trigram below points to gentle and penetrating foundations. Retrench and preserve resources until conditions improve.

Health & Wellness

Focus on lungs and head and thighs and immune system. Rest and recovery are priorities. Don't push your body beyond its current capacity.

Relationships

In relationships, embody encounter and temptation. Patience and understanding are needed. Avoid confrontation; focus on maintaining what you have.

Education & Growth

For learning, this hexagram emphasizes influence and vigilance. Focus on fundamentals and review. Build a strong foundation before advancing.

Practical Wisdom

Do

  • Cultivate encounter in all your actions
  • Practice temptation consistently
  • Embrace influence as your guiding principle
  • Develop vigilance through daily practice

Don’t

  • Neglect the importance of seduction
  • Abandon awareness under pressure
  • Act impulsively without considering consequences

Comparative Hexagrams

HexagramRelationship
43. Guài (夬)Breakthrough — resisting negative influence
33. Dùn (遁)Retreat — withdrawal from corrupting influence
1. Qián (乾)The Creative — maintain integrity against temptation

Sample Reading Dialogue

Querent: “An attractive but risky deal has landed on my desk unexpectedly. What should I do?”
You received Hexagram 44, Coming to Meet. The judgment says: 'Coming to Meet. The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden....' An unexpected encounter with a powerful force; be vigilant against corruption This is a cautionary sign. The current conditions call for seduction rather than action. Preserve your resources and wait for the cycle to turn.