Hexagram 45 of 64
Gathering Together
cui · 萃
TL;DR
- ◈Hexagram 45, Gathering Together, is summarized by the Judgment: Gathering Together. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to see the great man.
- ◈Its structure is Lake above Earth; read the trigram interaction before treating it as a simple label.
- ◈Core keywords: gathering, congregation, leadership, preparation.
By the Numbers
- #45
- King Wen Order
- Gathering Together in the 64-hexagram sequence.
- 2
- Trigrams
- Lake above Earth.
- 6
- Lines
- Each hexagram is read from bottom to top.
Classical Context
Hexagram 45, Cuì (萃), is the hexagram of Gathering — the assembly of people around a common center, like water pooling on the earth. Composed of Duì (☱ Lake) above and Kūn (☷ Earth) below: the lake sits upon the earth, collecting all the water that flows into it. This is the image of community, congregation, collective power.
This expanded note is adapted from the long-form hexagram draft as cultural and textual context; a live reading still depends on the question, changing lines, and the full transformation pattern.
Six-Line Theme Map
I Ching lines are read from the bottom upward. This map runs from the initial line to the top line so the Judgment, Image, and moving-line position can be read together.
- L1
初六 · 有孚不终
Sincerity that doesn't last — confusion
- L2
六二 · 引吉无咎
Being led — good fortune
- L3
六三 · 萃如嗟如
Gathering with sighs — nothing beneficial
- L4
九四 · 大吉无咎
Great good fortune, no blame
- L5
九五 · 萃有位无咎
Gathering at the position — no blame
- L6
上六 · 赍咨涕洟
Sighing and weeping — sincerity redeems
Deep Reading
A crowd becomes a community
Cuì gathers people around a center. The temple image shows that assembly needs more than numbers: it needs shared meaning, visible leadership, and a rhythm that gives people a reason to stay connected.
Ritual as social structure
The large offering in the Judgment is not merely expense; it marks seriousness. In a modern reading, ritual can mean clear agenda, shared standards, and repeated practices that turn loose interest into commitment.
Reading Cuì in a live question
- Team or organization
- Clarify the center: purpose, decision owner, and shared practice. Gathering without a center becomes noise.
- Community work
- Invite people through a real shared need, not only through spectacle.
- Leadership
- The leader's role is to hold the center, not to absorb all attention.
Source Notes
- Primary text
- The interpretation follows the Zhouyi Judgment, Image, and line statements for Cuì, especially the temple and gathering images.
- Zhouyi: Cuì Judgment, Image, and line statements
- Method boundary
- Gathering is read as a cultural and organizational symbol, not as proof that any specific leader or group is trustworthy.
- CosmicTao editorial method note
Interpretation
Yes. Assemble your resources and allies.
Upper Trigram
Lake
Lower Trigram
Earth
The Judgment (King Wen)
Gathering Together. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to see the great man.
The Image
Over the earth, the lake: the image of Gathering Together.
Keywords
FAQ
What is Hexagram 45 (Gathering Together)?
Gathering Together. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to see the great man.
What is the geometric structure of Hexagram 45?
Hexagram 45 acts with the upper trigram Lake and the lower trigram Earth.
What are the core themes of Gathering Together?
The core themes and meanings include: gathering, congregation, leadership, preparation.