I Ching · Hexagram 17 of 64
Hexagram 17: Sui （随） — Following
Sui is Lake over Thunder: the dragon-king resting within the great marsh, who stirs the clouds and sends rain for all beings when the season ripens. The hexagram carries two faces, the harmony that draws others and the following that joins them, so that one who is inwardly at peace finds the world coming to him. Its whole teaching moves from following others to being followed, without ever drifting along with the crowd.
At a glance
| Hexagram | 17 of 64 |
|---|---|
| Name | Sui 随 · Following |
| Upper trigram | Dui （兑）· Lake |
| Lower trigram | Zhen （震）· Thunder |
| Structure | Lake over Thunder |
| Lines | 6 lines |
The Judgment （卦辞）
Following. Supreme success. Favorable to be steadfast. No blame.
ExplainedThe lord of this hexagram does not chase after others; they come of their own accord. To be worthy of followers one must carry the four virtues of source, harmony, benefit and steadfastness, so that one follows the age without being carried off by it. Only the person whose center is whole, whose harmony is with Heaven, whose benefit flows from benevolence rather than money, and whose integrity is firm can draw people without falling into error.
Tuan Zhuan — Commentary on the Judgment （彖传）
Following. The firm comes down to the yielding; it moves and gladdens, and this is Following. Great success and steadfastness, no blame, and the world follows the time. Great indeed is the meaning of following the time.
ExplainedThunder, the firm, places itself beneath the yielding lake: a noble man stoops below lesser men and turns strength into gentleness. Because his movement gladdens others, they gladly follow him. Yet when a crowd gathers one must lead it along the great road toward sagehood, and only then is there no blame. When the hour is ripe the whole world moves with the time, and the benevolent one meets no enemy as his way sweeps the earth.
Xiang Zhuan — Image Commentary （大象）
Thunder within the lake: Following. Thus the noble one, at nightfall, goes in to rest.
ExplainedThe dragon-king hides in the great marsh; even so the noble one withdraws into stillness when the sun goes down. Only what is rooted in quiet can set the ten thousand things in motion.
The Six Lines （六爻）
The lines are read from the bottom upward. Each carries its own text, a Small Image commentary, and a plain-English reading.
Line 1 · YangLine 1
The standard is changed. Perseverance brings good fortune. Going out of the gate brings achievement.
Small ImageThe standard is changed: by following what is right there is good fortune.
ExplainedThe first step of life is to change one's own subjective measure, setting uprightness and goodness as one's standard and trusting that Heaven assists the good. When the inner measure is right, every direction one walks yields accomplishment.
Line 2 · YinLine 2
He holds to the boy, and loses the husband.
Small ImageHe holds to the boy; he cannot have both.
ExplainedThis is the choice between profit and rightness. To hold the boy is to grasp after pleasure and gain; to lose the husband is to lose duty and the life of the spirit. The two cannot be held at once.
Line 3 · YinLine 3
He holds to the husband and loses the boy. Following, he obtains what he seeks. It is favorable to abide in steadfastness.
Small ImageHe holds to the husband: his will lets go of what is low.
ExplainedTurning instead to the spirit and to duty, one lets go of mere comfort, for the soul's provision is the Way itself and the more one drinks of it the more joy one finds. Following the right teacher, every rightful need is met, and steadfastness holds one to the upward road.
Line 4 · YangLine 4
Following brings gain. Perseverance brings misfortune. With sincerity in the Way and with clarity, what blame is there?
Small ImageFollowing brings gain; in principle this is misfortune. With sincerity in the Way, the work is made clear.
ExplainedWhen virtue is settled, others begin to follow and much is gained, yet one who is not in the seat of power may draw the jealousy of those who are. If sincerity stays in the Way the road remains bright and no fault is incurred, and to be lightly regarded burns away old karma.
Line 5 · YangLine 5
Sincerity toward what is excellent brings good fortune.
Small ImageSincerity toward the excellent brings good fortune: his place is central and correct.
ExplainedWhen the foundation is firm and the teaching pure, the world begins to trust. Those who believe are blessed, and the more good they become the greater their blessing. The leaders of the work all stand in their right places, centered and upright, so that excellence shines from within.
Line 6 · YinLine 6
Bound and tied to it, he follows and is made fast. The king offers sacrifice on the western mountain.
Small ImageHe is bound and tied: the highest has reached its limit.
ExplainedThe ancient king gave up his land and moved west rather than see his people die, and they followed him as if bound with cords. He sacrificed on the western mountain and Heaven sent rain, founding a house of eight hundred years. To the eye the people were bound to him, yet in truth the one above had come to the end of his road, and still no one let go.
Key takeaway
Following teaches the harmony that draws others and the loyalty that joins them, and warns against drifting with the crowd.
Frequently asked questions
What does Hexagram 17 (Sui) mean in the I Ching?
Sui is Lake over Thunder: the dragon-king resting within the great marsh, who stirs the clouds and sends rain for all beings when the season ripens. The hexagram carries two faces, the harmony that draws others and the following that joins them, so that one who is inwardly at peace finds the world coming to him. Its whole teaching moves from following others to being followed, without ever drifting along with the crowd.
What is the judgment of Hexagram 17?
Following. Supreme success. Favorable to be steadfast. No blame. The lord of this hexagram does not chase after others; they come of their own accord. To be worthy of followers one must carry the four virtues of source, harmony, benefit and steadfastness, so that one follows the age without being carried off by it. Only the person whose center is whole, whose harmony is with…
What do the six lines of Hexagram 17 say?
Line 1: The standard is changed. Perseverance brings good fortune. Going out of the gate brings achievement. Line 2: He holds to the boy, and loses the husband. Line 3: He holds to the husband and loses the boy. Following, he obtains what he seeks. It is favorable to abide in steadfastness. Line 4: Following brings gain. Perseverance brings misfortune. With sincerity in the Way and with clarity, what blame is there? Line 5: Sincerity toward what is excellent brings good fortune. Line 6: Bound and tied to it, he follows and is made fast. The king offers sacrifice on the western mountain.
What is the main lesson of Hexagram 17 (Following)?
Following teaches the harmony that draws others and the loyalty that joins them, and warns against drifting with the crowd.
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