Hexagram 17: Following
Outer trigram (upper)
Đoài
Marsh · Metal
Inner trigram (lower)
Chấn
Thunder · Wood
Judgment
隨：元，亨，利，貞，无咎.
Translation
Following: supreme success, benefit, and steadfastness in what is right — no error.
Commentary
Dui (Lake) is above, representing joy; Zhen (Thunder) is below, representing movement. When joy is paired with movement, others naturally follow. Line 5, yang, occupies the position of the ruler, both central and correct; Line 2, yin, responds to it. Moreover, throughout the hexagram the yang lines follow the yin — the firm yields to the yielding — which is why this hexagram is called Following. Knowing how to follow the pattern of heaven and the moment, and following others accordingly, is a mark of great virtue.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yang)
初九：官有渝，貞吉，出門交有功.
Translation
Change your position; if you hold to what is right, it is fortunate; going out to meet others brings achievement.
Commentary
Line 1, yang, governs the lower trigram Zhen and sits at the bottom, at the very start of the time of Following. One should let go of old positions and reach out widely, without clinging to factions or cliques — doing so brings real achievement.
Line 2 (yin)
六二：係小子，失丈夫.
Translation
Attaching to the lesser person means losing the greater one.
Commentary
Line 2, yin, is central and correct, and corresponds to Line 5, yang (the greater person); but it sits right next to Line 1, yang (the lesser one). If it attaches itself to Line 1, it loses its bond with Line 5. The lesson is to choose carefully whom you follow.
Line 3 (yin)
六三：係丈夫，失小子；隨有求得，利居貞.
Translation
Attaching to the greater person and letting go of the lesser one — following in this way, what is sought is gained; remaining settled and holding to what is right brings benefit.
Commentary
Line 3 leaves behind Line 2 below (the lesser one) and follows Line 4 above (the greater one). Following someone good and upright means what is sought will be gained, so one should hold firmly to what is right.
Line 4 (yang)
九四：隨有獲，貞凶．有孚，在道，以明何咎.
Translation
Gaining many followers through Following — clinging rigidly to correctness alone brings misfortune. But with true sincerity, staying on the right path, and acting with clarity, what fault could there be?
Commentary
Line 4 sits close to the ruler (Line 5) and draws many followers; but being yang and firm while off-center, it risks overreach. Only with genuine sincerity, staying on the proper path, and clear judgment can it avoid fault.
Line 5 (yang)
九五：孚于嘉，吉.
Translation
Trusting in what is good and beautiful — fortunate.
Commentary
Line 5, yang, is central and correct, occupying the position of highest honor. Placing trust in what is genuinely good is certain to bring good fortune.
Line 6 (yin)
上六：拘係之，乃從維之．王用亨于西山.
Translation
Bound and held fast, then drawn in and kept close. The king, moved by this virtue, offers sacrifice at the Western Mountain.
Commentary
Line 6, yin, sits at the very top; it corresponds with Line 3 and is also held close by Line 5. This is the image of someone whom everyone is reluctant to let go of — the virtue of Following has reached its fullest expression. The king honors this virtue with a solemn sacrifice to the spirit of the Western Mountain, a matter of great weight.