一陰始生·不期而遇·夏至之卦
先看圖像，再讀文字。Read the image before the words.
天下有風，姤
(The trigram representing) the sky and below it that for wind form Gou.
后以施命誥四方。
The sovereign, in accordance with this, delivers his charges, and promulgates his announcements throughout the four quarters (of the kingdom).
天下有風，姤之象。君王仿此，發佈命令、告諭四方。 風行天下，就像消息與警訊傳到各處。一陰始生之際，正是君王該提醒全國的時刻。
(The trigram representing) the sky and below it that for wind form Gou. The sovereign, in accordance with this, delivers his charges, and promulgates his announcements throughout the four quarters (of the kingdom).
先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。The received text, then the Tuan commentary on it.
姤：女壯，勿用取女。
姤，一個強勢的女子，不應該娶這樣的女子。 夏至一陰始生，看似強勢的陽已經開始衰退，那條剛起的陰雖微但將大。卦辭用「女壯」這個比喻提醒：不要輕易接受或結合一個看似弱、其實將要坐大的力量。
Gou shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry (such) a female.
姤，遇也，柔遇剛也。「勿用取女」，不可與長也。天地相遇，品物咸章也。剛遇中正，天下大行也。姤之時義大矣哉！
姤，相遇。柔遇剛。「勿用取女」，是說不可與之長久。天地相遇，萬物都顯現出來。剛遇中正之道，天下大行。姤的時機與意義，何其重大。
In Gou we have (the symbol of) meeting; the weak meeting the strong. 'It will not be good to marry the female':—it would not be possible to live with her long. Heaven and earth meeting together, (as here is intimated), all the variety of natural things become fully displayed. (Where) the strong (line) is met and responded to by (those representing) the due Mean and correctness, (good government) will greatly prevail all under the sky. Great indeed is the significance of what has to be done at the time indicated by Gou!
六條線各有一句判斷。閱讀次序初→上；卦象由下而上，看左側的卦。One statement per line, read from the first line to the top. The figure is drawn bottom-up — watch the rail.
繫于金柅，貞吉。有攸往，見凶。羸豕孚蹢躅。
繫在金屬的制動器上，守正則吉；如果貿然行動，就凶。瘦弱的母豬，內心其實焦躁不安、蠢蠢欲動。 初六是全卦的主爻，就是那條剛起的陰。要把它繫住，控制在萌芽階段，牠看似瘦弱，內裡卻躁動不安，不可小看。
The first SIX, divided, shows how its subject should be kept (like a carriage) tied and fastened to a metal drag, in which case with firm correctness there will be good fortune. (But) if he move in any direction, evil will appear. He will be (like) a lean pig, which is sure to keep jumping about.
繫于金柅，柔道牽也。
繫在金屬制動器上，是柔道的牽引，順著它，但要控制住。
'Tied and fastened to a metal drag':—(this describes the arrest of) the (downward) course of the weak (line).
包有魚，无咎，不利賓。
包裡有魚，無咎，但不利於接待賓客。 九二與初六相近，把那條陰控制、包容在自己範圍內沒有錯，但這種包容不該拿出來對外張揚。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject with a wallet of fish. There will be no error. But it will not be well to let (the subject of the first line) go on to the guests.
包有魚，義不及賓也。
包中有魚，按義理不該給賓客。
'He has a wallet of fish':—it is right for him not to allow (the subject of the first line) to get to the guests.
臀无膚，其行次且，厲，无大咎。
臀部沒有皮，走路困難，雖然危險，但沒有大過失。 九三進退兩難，坐不安、走不動，但因為知道戒懼，才沒有釀成大禍。
The third NINE, undivided, shows one from whose buttocks the skin has been stripped so that he walks with difficulty. The position is perilous, but there will be no great error.
其行次且，行未牽也。
走路困難，是行動還沒被牽引，也就是還沒結盟。
'He walks with difficulty':—but his steps have not yet been drawn (into the path of error).
包无魚，起凶。
包裡沒有魚，一有動作就凶。 九四與初六不相應，等於失去控制那條陰的機會，這時再動，就凶。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject with his wallet, but no fish in it. This will give rise to evil.
无魚之凶，遠民也。
無魚之凶，是因為遠離了民眾。
'The evil indicated by there being no fish in the wallet' is owing to (the subject of the line) keeping himself aloof from the people.
以杞包瓜，含章，有隕自天。
用杞樹葉包著瓜，含藏著才德，不外露，福氣自然從天而降。 九五居君位，用高處的杞樹包容低處的瓜，也就是以上包下、以剛包柔，含而不露，福氣才會自天而來。
The fifth NINE, undivided, (shows its subject as) a medlar tree overshadowing the gourd (beneath it). If he keep his brilliant qualities concealed, (a good issue) will descend (as) from Heaven.
九五含章，中正也；有隕自天，志不舍命也。
九五含章，是因為居中守正；有福自天，是因為心志不違天命。
'The subject of the fifth NINE keeps his brilliant qualities concealed':—as is denoted by his central and correct position. '(A good issue) descends (as) from Heaven':—his aim does not neglect the ordinances (of Heaven).
姤其角，吝，无咎。
在角上相遇，有些遺憾，但無咎。 上九是卦的盡頭，在最高、最邊緣處才與那條陰相遇，錯過了時機，雖然遺憾，卻不至於招咎。
The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject receiving others on his horns. There will be occasion for regret, but there will be no error.
姤其角，上窮吝也。
姤其角，是在上位走到盡頭的遺憾。
'He receives others on his horns':—he is exhausted on high, and there will be occasion for regret.
把象套到你的情境，取一個可行的下一步。Apply the image to your situation; take one practical step.
夏至，表面烈日當空，地下卻已經有一縷涼意悄悄升起。
Summer solstice: sun blazing overhead, while underground a first thread of coolness has begun to rise.
姤與復互為錯卦，兩個萌芽信號互為鏡像。讀姤時該同時想到復：你此刻是在復，也就是陽來、好信號萌芽，還是在姤，也就是陰來、警訊萌芽？兩種萌芽都不容忽視。Gou and Fu (24) are opposite hexagrams, two germination signals mirroring each other. Reading Gou implies reading Fu too: are you currently in Fu, with yang returning as an encouraging sign, or in Gou, with yin emerging as a warning sign? Neither germination should be ignored.
姤卦教人見微知著，在萌芽期就介入。卦辭「女壯，勿用取女」先下警告：看似柔弱卻主動來找你的力量，最須提防。初六「繫于金柅」點明時機：萌芽期的制動，比巔峰期的對抗容易得多。到了九五「含章」，則換一種姿態，以大格局包容那條陰而不失控，無須一味排斥。最怕九四「無魚」，錯過早期介入的窗口，待其坐大便悔之晚矣。
Gou teaches discerning the subtle and stepping in while things are just forming. The judgment's 'a strong woman' warns you to be wary of forces that look weak but actively approach you. Line 1's 'tie it to the metal brake' shows that restraint at germination is far easier than confrontation once something has peaked. Line 5's 'enclose your brilliance' offers another stance: contain the new yin from a higher vantage rather than rejecting it outright. The deepest failure is line 4's 'no fish in the bag,' missing the window for early intervention.
把姤讀成『都是陽，沒什麼大不了』，是個致命的誤讀。這一卦講的就是在看似完美的時刻，看出那條剛萌芽的陰。最大的失誤，是在巔峰期只顧慶祝，沒看見陰已經起了，等它長大，從姤一路走到遯、否、觀、剝，就已經來不及了。
Misreading Gou as 'all yang, no big deal' is a fatal error. The whole teaching here is to see the germinating yin at the very moment things look perfect. The deepest failure is celebrating at the peak without noticing the yin that has already appeared; by the time it has grown, from Gou through Dun (33), Pi (12), Guan (20), to Bo (23), it is already too late.
姤者，遇也，柔遇剛之名也。一陰浸而長，將遇於眾陽，故為姤。「女壯」者，言小者方長，不可不防，其勢將盛而難制。聖人於姤之初，即以「繫于金柅」為戒，明微之至也。
Gou means 'meeting' — the name for the yielding meeting the firm. One yin moistens and grows, about to meet with the multiple yang — hence Gou. 'A strong woman' (nü zhuang) means: the small thing is just growing, cannot be left unguarded — its momentum will grow strong and become difficult to contain. The sage at Gou's start uses 'tie to the metal brake' (xi yu jin ni) as warning — the utmost in 'discerning the subtle.'
一陰始生於下，與五陽相遇，謂之姤。陰雖一而其勢漸長，所以聖人戒之曰「勿用取女」，是說不可與之長久相處。然而天地之大用，也在剛柔相遇，所以說「天地相遇，品物咸章」。聖人的教訓在於見微知著，在起初就加以節制。
One yin emerges from below and meets the five yang — Gou. Though only one yin, its momentum gradually grows; hence the sage warns 'do not marry this woman' — one cannot remain with it long. Yet the great working of heaven and earth lies precisely in firm-and-yielding meeting — hence 'heaven and earth meet, and all things become manifest.' The sage's teaching: see the subtle to know the manifest, constrain it at its origin.
姤，遇也。一陰生於五陽之下，陰始遇陽。五月之卦也。「女壯」者，謂陰陽相遇，陰漸盛也。「勿用取女」，戒陽之輕進也。
Gou means 'meeting.' One yin is born below five yang — yin first meets yang. The hexagram of the 5th lunar month. 'A strong woman' means: as yin and yang meet, yin gradually flourishes. 'Do not marry this woman' warns yang against light advance.
姤排在夏至，純陽的乾之後第一個月。表面看陽氣還盛得很，底下卻已經生出一條陰。姤與復（二十四）互為錯卦：復是一陽初生，人人歡喜；姤是一陰初起，偏偏沒人留意。好消息的苗頭容易慶祝，壞消息的苗頭容易放過，所以一切順利、風平浪靜的日子，恰恰要按姤來讀。 卦辭「女壯，勿用取女」拿婚事打比方：有個看著弱小柔順的力量主動貼上來，先別急著結合。它此刻弱，只因還在萌芽，養大了會反客為主。投資、合作、用人，凡是順得反常、容易得反常的機會，都照這句掂一掂。至於已經冒頭的那條陰怎麼辦，九五「以杞包瓜，含章」給了上策：借高處的杞樹把瓜包住，自己含而不露，管住它而非趕盡它。大象「后以施命誥四方」再進一步，察覺微兆就通告全境，風剛起就動手，別等它長成颶風。
Gou falls at the summer solstice, the first month after pure-yang Qian. On the surface yang is still at full strength; underneath, one yin line has already appeared. Gou mirrors hexagram 24, Return: there one yang is born and everyone celebrates, here one yin is born and hardly anyone notices. Buds of good news are easy to toast, buds of trouble easy to overlook, which is why the calmest, smoothest stretches are exactly when to read the moment as Gou. The judgment, the woman is powerful, do not take this woman, puts it in terms of a marriage: when a force that looks small, soft, and obliging comes courting of its own accord, do not rush into the bond. It is weak now only because it is still germinating; grown, it will take the house over. Investments, partnerships, hires, any opportunity that feels unusually easy or unusually smooth deserves this line's scrutiny. As for the yin already sprouted, line five, a gourd wrapped in willow leaves, holding brilliance within, gives the higher method: contain it from above, keep your own light veiled, manage it rather than hunt it down. The Great Image, the sovereign issues his commands and proclaims them to the four quarters, goes one step further: the moment you detect the faint signal, alert the whole system, and act while it is still a breeze rather than a gale.
偶然相遇，尤指不期而遇。字形含「女」，對應初爻那條剛冒出的陰，指看似不起眼卻改變全局的相遇。
Unexpected meeting / encounter. The character includes 女 (female) reflecting the bottom yin newly arriving among five yang. The hexagram's signature: an encounter that looks small but changes everything.
字面是「強壯的女子」，卦裡指看似柔弱、實則將要坐大的力量，提醒不可輕易與之結合。
'A strong woman' — read as: a force that appears small/yielding but is actually powerful. The line-1 yin will rise to dominate over time.
金屬制動器，用來煞住車輪。初六「繫于金柅」是說要在陰剛冒頭時就把它煞住，不讓它任意發展。
Metal drag-block — a brake mechanism for stopping a cart. Line 1: '繫于金柅' — restrain the new yin at its emergence; don't let it move freely.
瘦弱的母豬。初六用牠比喻表面柔弱、內裡卻焦躁不安、蠢蠢欲動的那條陰。
Lean / sickly pig. Line 1's image: 'looks weak but full of agitated jumping' — the yin appears non-threatening but is internally restless.
袋子裡裝著魚。九二用這意象比喻把那條陰控制在自己範圍內，卻不對外聲張。
A wallet/bag containing fish. Line 2's image: containing the new yin within one's purview, but not making it public.
枸杞一類的高大樹木。九五「以杞包瓜」用高處之物包容低處之物，比喻以上位者的涵養包容微小的陰。
Medlar tree / Chinese wolfberry tree. Line 5's '以杞包瓜' — using the high-growing tree's leaves to envelop the low-growing gourd. Image of containment from above.
把文采、才德藏而不露。九五用這詞形容居中守正、不張揚的處世姿態。
To 'enclose brilliance' — to hold radiant qualities concealed rather than displayed. Line 5's signature attainment.
姤對應五月（午月，夏至節氣）。從純陽的乾（四月）到一陰始生的姤（五月），是全年陽氣最盛之後的第一個反轉點，正好與十一月冬至、一陽來復的復卦相對應。
Gou corresponds to the fifth lunar month, at the summer solstice. From pure-yang Qian in the fourth month to one-yin Gou in the fifth, it is the first reversal point after yang's annual peak, standing opposite the eleventh-month winter solstice, when Fu brings the first yang back.
姤與復互為錯卦，都是「一條線剛起」的萌芽卦，但方向相反：復是一陽從五陰中萌芽，像從谷底反彈，是令人振奮的信號；姤是一陰從五陽中萌芽，是巔峰過後第一個衰退的信號。讀姤時該同時想到復，看看自己此刻的處境，哪一種萌芽訊號更要緊。
Gou and Fu (24) are opposite hexagrams, both germination hexagrams where a single line first emerges, but in opposite directions. Fu is one yang sprouting from five yin, like bouncing off the bottom, an encouraging signal. Gou is one yin emerging from five yang, the first sign of decline right after the peak. Reading Gou should bring Fu to mind too: which germinating signal matters more in your own situation right now?
姤與四十三卦夬上下顛倒，互為綜卦。夬是五陽由下往上，決斷最上面殘留的那條陰；姤同樣是五陽一陰，只是陰在下、陽在上，正是決斷之後，又有一陰重新冒出來。讀姤時該同時想到夬：上一次決斷處理掉的那條陰，是不是又從下面長出來了？
Gou and Guai (43) are inverse hexagrams, one read upside down to give the other. Guai: five yang advancing from below to break through the last yin above. Gou: the same five-yang-one-yin pattern, but with yin below, meaning after a decisive break, another yin has begun to germinate. Reading Gou alongside Guai is worth asking: has the yin you decisively dealt with last time started growing back from below?
姤卦談的是見微知著，這也是中國政治思想裡的重要傳統。《繫辭傳》說「幾者動之微」，講的正是萌芽階段的細微變動。後來商鞅、賈誼、董仲舒講防患未然、及早示警，精神上都與這一卦相通。「繫于金柅」則是及早介入常用的比喻。
Gou belongs to the Chinese political tradition of discerning the subtle to know what's coming. The Xi Ci Zhuan says 'incipience is the subtle start of motion,' precisely this early, faint stage of change. Later figures such as Shang Yang, Jia Yi, and Dong Zhongshu, in writing about preventing trouble before it starts and giving early warning, echo this hexagram in spirit. 'Tying it to the metal brake' is a common metaphor for early intervention.
你此刻哪裡有一個「看似完美但已經有微弱警訊」的情境？是在姤的哪一爻？
Where in your life is something 'apparently perfect with a subtle warning signal'? Which Gou line are you on?
辨認：姤、柅、羸、豕、杞、瓜、含。
Identify each character: 姤 (gòu), 柅 (nǐ), 羸 (léi), 豕 (shǐ), 杞 (qǐ), 瓜 (guā), 含 (hán).
為什麼卦辭用「女壯」這樣的比喻？是性別問題還是結構性警告？
Why does the judgment use the metaphor of 'a strong woman'? Is it a gender comment or a structural warning?