需·等待·時機未到時的智慧
Judgment and its commentary
先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。Read the received text first, then its Tuan commentary.
需：有孚，光亨，貞吉。利涉大川。
需——有誠信，光明通達，守正則吉。利於渡過大河。 等待不是消極——是帶著誠信 / 光明 / 守正的主動等待。等出對的時機之後，可以渡過大險（涉大川）。
Xu intimates that, with the sincerity which is declared in it, there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
需，須也，險在前也。剛健而不陷，其義不困窮矣。「需，有孚，光亨，貞吉」，位乎天位，以正中也。「利涉大川」，往有功也。
需——必須等。險（坎）在前。剛健（乾）而不陷入其中——所以義上不困窮。「需有孚光亨貞吉」——居於天位，以中正守之。「利涉大川」——前往必有功績。
Xu denotes waiting. (The figure) shows peril in front; but notwithstanding the firmness and strength (indicated by the inner trigram), its subject does not allow himself to be involved (in the dangerous defile);—it is right he should not be straitened or reduced to extremity. When it is said that, 'with the sincerity declared in Xu, there will be brilliant success, and with firmness there will be good fortune,' this is shown by the position (of the fifth line) in the place assigned by Heaven, and its being the correct position and that of the centre. 'It will be advantageous to cross the great stream':—going forward will be followed by meritorious achievement.
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
雲上於天，需
(The trigram representing) the clouds and that for the sky above it form Xu.
君子以飲食宴樂。
The superior man, in accordance with this, eats and drinks, feasts and enjoys himself, (as if there were nothing else to employ him).
雲在天上—需之象。君子仿此—在等待中飲食宴樂（保持從容而不焦慮）。 （雲在天上還沒下雨，是等雨的狀態。在等中不應該焦急表演，反而要從容自在。）
本站導讀，不屬《大象傳》原文；用來預覽本卦六爻由初至上的意象變化。An editorial preview of the six line images, not part of the Great Image Commentary.
需于郊，利用恆，无咎。
在郊外等待—利於用恆心，無咎。 初九距險最遠（在郊外）—等在安全距離，需要的是恆久的耐心。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be advantageous for him constantly to maintain (the purpose thus shown), in which case there will be no error.
需于郊，不犯難行也；利用恆无咎，未失常也。
在郊外等—不冒險前行；利用恆心無咎—沒失常道。
'He is waiting in the distant border':—he makes no movement to encounter rashly the difficulties (of the situation). 'It will be advantageous for him constantly to maintain (the purpose thus shown), in which case there will be no error':—he will not fail to pursue the regular course.
需于沙，小有言，終吉。
在沙灘上等—有一些口舌，但最終吉。 九二已接近水邊（沙灘）—開始有雜音、批評，但守中道終吉。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting on the sand (of the mountain stream). He will (suffer) the small (injury of) being spoken (against), but in the end there will be good fortune.
需于沙，衍在中也；雖小有言，以終吉也。
在沙上等—寬廣在中（中道寬闊）；雖有小雜音—終究吉。
'He is waiting on the sand':—he occupies his position in the centre with a generous forbearance. Although 'he may suffer the small (injury) of being spoken against', he will bring things to a good issue.
需于泥，致寇至。
在泥中等—招致盜寇來到。 九三已經走入險境（泥沼）—等在不該等的地方，主動招致麻煩。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the mud (close by the stream). He thereby invites the approach of injury.
需于泥，災在外也；自我致寇，敬慎不敗也。
在泥中等—災在外面；自己招致盜寇—但敬慎不致失敗。
'He is waiting in the mud':—calamity is (close at hand) outside. 'He has himself invited the approach of injury':—but, with reverence and caution, he will not be defeated.
需于血，出自穴。
在血泊中等—從洞穴出來。 六四已入險境中心（血 / 穴）—但由於柔順順從，能從險中脫出。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject waiting in (the place of) blood. But he will get out of the cavern.
需于血，順以聽也。
在血中等—因為順從而能聽命。
'He is waiting in (the place of) blood':—he allows himself to be led away from it by his docility.
需于酒食，貞吉。
在酒食中等—守正則吉。 九五是全卦主爻—已經渡過險境，在安適中等待結果。「酒食」象徵從容自在而非焦急。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject waiting amidst the appliances of a feast. Through his firmness and correctness there will be good fortune.
酒食貞吉，以中正也。
酒食守正之吉—因居中正。
'The good fortune (arising from) feasting and the firm correctness' is due to (the subject of the line) occupying his place in the due mean and in the correct position.
入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。
進入洞穴—有三個不速之客來到，恭敬對待—終吉。 上六是等之終—等出了結果，但結果來得出乎意料。恭敬接待即使是不速之客—仍能化險為吉。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject entered into the cavern. (But) there are three guests coming, without being urged, (to his help). If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end.
不速之客來，敬之終吉，雖不當位，未大失也。
不速之客來—敬之終吉，雖然位不當，但沒有大損失。
'Visitors are coming, and if (the subject of the line) treats them with respect, there will be good fortune in the end':—though the place is not the appropriate one for him, he has made no great mistake.
Wait, await; also 'need.' The hexagram's central image is a forced pause due to obstacle ahead — but the pause is active, not passive.
Inner sincerity / trust. Without 孚, waiting becomes restless; with 孚, waiting is light. This character recurs throughout the Yijing as the inner state required for any holding pattern.
Outskirts, the distant border. Line 1's location — far from the danger. Wait at safe distance with patience.
Sand. Line 2's location — at water's edge. Closer to risk; expect some criticism but hold the center.
Mud. Line 3's location — already wet/dangerous. Waiting in the wrong place actively invites trouble.
Wine and food, a feast. Line 5's image: waiting with composure, not with anxiety. The mature mode of holding pattern.
'Unhastened guests' = unexpected visitors. Line 6's resolution: when the wait ends, what arrives may not be what you expected — handle it with respect.
