Hexagram 17 · Sui 隨
Choose what to follow as conditions change
Sui places Lake above Thunder. The upper trigram is associated with joy and the lower with movement. The classical commentary describes following in relation to the time and a sound course of conduct.
Short answer
Read Sui as a prompt to respond to what the situation now requires. Examine the person, purpose, or habit you are following, and adapt in a way that remains consistent with your judgment and responsibilities.
- Upper
- Dui · Lake
- Lower
- Zhen · Thunder
Pattern
Lake above Thunder
- Chinese
- 隨
- Upper trigram
- Dui · Lake
- Lower trigram
- Zhen · Thunder
- Lines
- Yang at the first, fourth, and fifth positions
Classical text
Following requires a sound course
隨：元亨。利貞。无咎。— Zhouyi, Hexagram 17
The judgment joins great progress with beneficial correctness and freedom from blame. The Tuan commentary describes movement with joy and emphasizes following the time. This makes timing and the quality of the course central to the meaning of Following.
The Image says “澤中有雷，隨；君子以嚮晦入宴息”. The Image presents thunder within the lake and the exemplary person going indoors to rest as darkness approaches. In a modern application, responsiveness can include recognizing when to stop and recover. The second and third lines show that one attachment can displace another; the fourth warns that gains from following still require sincerity and clarity. These details invite an examination of loyalties and tradeoffs, rather than treating every available influence as worthy of trust.
When it helps
Respond to the actual situation
Notice what has changed and what remains sound. Decide whose guidance is useful, what evidence supports it, and which part of your approach needs to adapt.
What to watch
Know what your commitment displaces
Following one direction uses attention and may close other options. Review the cost of the commitment and whether the reasons for it still hold as circumstances develop.
Questions for reflection
- What am I following, and why does it deserve trust?
- What has changed enough to require an adjustment?
- What am I giving up by continuing in this direction?
Read moving lines with the question and method of your own cast; this reference is not a complete reading. See how changing lines are displayed.
Sources
Check the original text
This page paraphrases the classical material and identifies its practical examples about timing and choices as modern interpretation.