Hexagram 44 of 64
Coming to Meet
姤 (Gòu)
Coming to Meet (gòu) — the bold, unexpected encounter
Unexpected EncounterAs shown in classical I Ching texts
Composition
Upper Trigram
Creative, initiating, strong — the power that begins things
Outer situation / environment
Lower Trigram
Gentle, penetrating, persistent — gradual influence that goes everywhere
Inner situation / your state
Interaction
Heaven above Wind — sky meeting breeze. The outer energy of heaven shapes the inner disposition of wind.
Meaning
An unexpected encounter — something bold approaches. Be cautious of seductive but dangerous influences.
Classical Judgment
“Coming to Meet. The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden.”
The classical judgment is the original oracle text — the answer the I Ching gives when this hexagram appears.
The Image
Under heaven, wind. The ruler, in issuing commands, makes them known to all quarters of heaven.
The Image is a nature scene associated with this hexagram — a symbolic picture that distils its essence. In classic texts, meditating on the Image was considered the proper way to absorb the hexagram's teaching.
Nuclear Hexagram
Lines 2–5 of this hexagram form an inner hexagram called the nuclear hexagram. It reveals the hidden seed or underlying dynamic within the situation — what lies at the core beneath the surface.
#1 — Hidden within
The Creative
乾 (Qián) · Creative Force
In a Reading
When hexagram 44 appears in your reading, the I Ching is drawing your attention to the quality of unexpected encounter. Sit with the Image — “Under heaven, wind” — and consider how this pattern is playing out in your current situation. The Judgment offers the oracle’s direct guidance on how to move with this energy rather than against it.
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