I Ching hexagram · 9 of 64
Hexagram 9: Small Taming 小畜 Xiǎo Chù · Small restraint, gentle influence
Small restraint. Gentle influence brings steady, gradual progress. Success. Dense clouds, but no rain from our western region.
- Upper: ☴ Wind
- Lower: ☰ Heaven
- Nuclear: 38
- Opposite: 16
Number
9 of 64
Chinese name
小畜 Xiǎo Chù
Upper trigram
☴ Wind
Lower trigram
☰ Heaven
Nuclear hexagram
䷥ 38. Opposition
Opposite hexagram
䷏ 16. Enthusiasm
What hexagram 9 means
Hexagram 9 shows wind blowing across the sky, gathering clouds that do not yet bring rain. A single yin line holds back five yang lines: small, gentle forces restraining something much stronger.
This is a time of limited progress. Big moves are not yet possible, so work through gentle influence, small improvements and patience. The rain will come once enough has built up.
The Judgement · 卦辞
小畜：亨。密云不雨，自我西郊。
Success. Dense clouds, but no rain from our western region.
The Image · 象曰
风行天上，小畜；君子以懿文德。
The wind drives across heaven: the image of the taming power of the small. The noble person refines the outward expression of their character.
The lines and trigrams
Small Taming places ☴ Wind (巽 Xùn), the trigram of gentle, penetrating influence, above ☰ Heaven (乾 Qián), the trigram of strength and creative power. The lower trigram describes the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 9 in your life
Love and relationships
Small gestures matter more than big declarations. Be gentle and patient; the relationship moves forward through kindness and attention to detail.
Personal growth
Polish the small things: manners, habits and skills. Gentle, steady refinement prepares you for a bigger moment.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 9 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初九 · Nine at the beginning
Returning to the way. How could there be blame? Going back to your own path brings good fortune.
Line 2 九二 · Nine in the second place
Drawn back to the path together with others. Good fortune: you are not alone in holding back.
Line 3 九三 · Nine in the third place
The spokes burst out of the wagon wheel, and husband and wife roll their eyes at each other. Forcing progress leads to quarrels.
Line 4 六四 · Six in the fourth place
If you are sincere, bloodshed is avoided and fear gives way. No blame: honesty wins over a stronger opponent.
Line 5 九五 · Nine in the fifth place
Sincere and loyally attached, you share your wealth with your neighbour. Mutual trust makes everyone richer.
Line 6 上九 · Nine at the top
The rain has come and there is rest. The goal is reached, so be content now: pushing further brings misfortune.
Hexagram 9 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 9 mean?
Hexagram 9, Small Taming (小畜 Xiǎo Chù), is about small restraint, gentle influence. Small restraint. Gentle influence brings steady, gradual progress. Hexagram 9 shows wind blowing across the sky, gathering clouds that do not yet bring rain. A single yin line holds back five yang lines: small, gentle forces restraining something much stronger.
What does hexagram 9 mean in love?
Small gestures matter more than big declarations. Be gentle and patient; the relationship moves forward through kindness and attention to detail.
What does hexagram 9 mean for work and money?
Progress is held back by minor obstacles or limited resources. Refine your plans, tidy the details and make small gains rather than forcing a breakthrough.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 9?
Hexagram 9 has Wind (Xùn) as its upper trigram and Heaven (Qián) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 9?
Its nuclear hexagram is 38, Opposition. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 16, Enthusiasm. Turned upside down it becomes 10, Treading.
All 64 hexagrams
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