YiPhase LESSON 17 / 64 Read the full hexagram ↗

The Book of Changes · Everyday life

隨 SUÍ — Choose what you follow

An illustrated bilingual YiPhase lesson on Following, hexagram 17 of the I Ching, with six line-by-line everyday examples. Follow the original Chinese, a modern life example, and each line from the bottom upward.

An official updates a route and welcomes neighbors at a gate.
01 / 08

17 · FOLLOWING

Choose what you follow

象曰:澤中有雷,隨;君子以向晦入宴息。

Thunder within the Lake: Following. The noble one enters rest and repose as dusk approaches.

Following is not blind compliance.

震 · Thunder below · 兌 · Lake above · lines rise from the bottom

NARRATION

Following is not blind compliance.

Ready · about 4 minutes

An original YiPhase teaching lesson. Your device supplies the narration, so voice quality varies. The modern situation is an analogy, not a prediction. Explore the full 隨 guide for the classical judgment and six detailed line readings.

Read the full English / 中文 script

1. Choose what you follow · 象曰:澤中有雷,隨;君子以向晦入宴息。

Following is not blind compliance.

随不是盲从,而是能顺应时机、接纳变化,同时不丢失正道。

You have just moved to a new city for work. The local customs and pace are different from what you're used to.

你刚搬到新城市工作,当地习俗和节奏与你以往不同。 你想融入并向周围人学习,但也不想失去自己的价值观。

The Image gives us a clue: Thunder within the Lake: Following. The noble one enters rest and repose as dusk approaches. We will read the six lines from the ground upward.

象曰:澤中有雷,隨;君子以向晦入宴息。 我们从下往上读六爻,看看处境怎样一步步变化。

2. Change and connect · 官有渝,貞吉。出門交有功。

The official changes the old route and walks out to meet the neighbors. A new role calls for an open, sound response.

官员改了旧路,走出门与邻人相接;职责变化了,跟随的方法也要变。

After a company reorganization, Maya’s role changes. She sticks to her core work ethic but actively visits other departments to learn the new system. If she stays open and connects, her projects gain support. If she isolates herself, she struggles to adapt.

公司重组后,玛雅的职责变了。她坚守自己的工作原则,同时主动走访其他部门学习新流程。如果她保持开放并建立联系,项目就能获得支持;如果自我封闭,就难以适应。

When a role changes, stay sound and go out to connect; that brings achievement. When your role changes, do you reach out to others?

当你的角色改变时,你会主动联系他人吗?

3. Do not follow the small · 系小子,失丈夫。

The playful child draws the traveler away from the seasoned guide. Following the easy appeal can lose what truly helps.

旅人被顽童引开,离了有经验的向导;贪一时轻松,可能失去可靠指引。

While learning to cook, Leo finds a fun but superficial video series. He follows it, ignoring his aunt, a seasoned chef who offers patient guidance. If he keeps chasing quick tricks, he misses foundational skills. If he returns to his aunt’s teaching, he builds real confidence.

学烹饪时,利奥发现一个有趣但肤浅的视频系列。他跟着学,却忽略了身为资深厨师的姑妈提供的耐心指导。如果他继续追求速成技巧,就会错过基本功;若回到姑妈的教导,才能建立真正的信心。

Being pulled by the easy attraction of the moment can lose reliable guidance. What easy attraction might be pulling you away from deeper learning?

什么轻松的诱惑可能正让你偏离更深的学习?

4. Follow mature guidance · 系丈夫,失小子。隨有求得,利居貞。

This time the traveler follows the mature guide uphill and lets the child go. Choosing one path means releasing another.

旅人这次跟着成熟的向导上山,让顽童留在后面;选择可靠之路,也要舍掉别的牵引。

Nina wants to advance her career. She chooses to follow a demanding senior colleague on a complex project, leaving behind easy social events. If she stays committed and steady, she gains valuable skills. If she keeps drifting back to distractions, she may lose focus.

妮娜想在职场上进步。她选择跟随一位要求严格的前辈参与复杂项目,放下了轻松的社交活动。如果她坚持并稳住,就能获得宝贵技能;若总被干扰牵回,就可能失去专注。

Choosing mature guidance lets some easy attractions go. What enjoyable distraction might you need to set aside for a mature goal?

为了更成熟的目标,你可能需要放下什么愉快的消遣?

5. Keep gain accountable · 隨有獲,貞凶。有孚在道,以明,何咎?

After gifts arrive, the caravan leader opens the accounts. Gain is safer when companions can see how it is handled.

车队领队收到礼物便公开账目;所得越多,越要让过程看得见。

After a successful fundraiser, the community center receives a large donation. The coordinator, Sam, openly shares the budget and decision process with all members. If he clings to control, trust erodes. If he stays transparent, the community supports the project.

一次成功的募捐后,社区中心收到一大笔捐款。协调人山姆向所有成员公开预算和决策过程。如果他紧抓控制权,信任就会受损;若保持透明,社区就会支持项目。

Gain becomes risky when clung to. When you gain something, how do you keep it from becoming a source of suspicion?

当你有所获得时,如何避免它成为猜疑的源头?

6. Trust the good · 孚于嘉,吉。

People follow the lantern bearer because they trust the good being done. Allegiance here grows from conduct.

众人随持灯者走向公园,不是被迫,而是信得过这件好事。

A neighborhood group wants to start a community garden. Mr. Chen, known for fairness, leads the effort to find a shared plot. Because he acts for everyone's benefit, neighbors willingly join. If he favored only a few, interest would fade. Trust in good direction brings people together.

一个社区小组想开辟社区花园。以公正闻名的陈先生带头寻找共享地块。因为他是为所有人的利益行动,邻居们纷纷自愿加入。若他只偏袒少数人,兴趣就会消退。信任美善的方向能把人们凝聚起来。

Trust what is good and people naturally wish to follow. What good cause would you willingly follow, and why?

你愿意跟随什么美善的事业,为什么?

7. Complete the commitment · 拘系之,乃從維之。王用亨于西山。

At the mountain shrine, loose companions make a deliberate commitment. Following matures when people choose to stay.

山中众人完成共同约定;由暂时追随到自愿坚守,关系才算成形。

After months of loosely volunteering at the animal shelter, a group decides to formalize their commitment. They create a charter and hold a small ceremony to dedicate their ongoing service. If they stay bound only by convenience, they may drift apart. A shared commitment turns casual helpers into a lasting community.

在动物收容所松散地志愿服务数月后,一群人决定正式确定他们的承诺。他们制定章程并举行小型仪式,以投身于持续的服务。如果仅凭便利维系,他们可能散伙。共同的承诺将临时帮手变成持久的共同体。

At the end, a loose following becomes a community with commitment. When does a casual following become a real commitment for you?

对你而言,随意的跟随何时会变成真正的承诺?

8. What deserves your loyalty? · 隨,元亨,利貞,無咎。

The time moves and people may adapt.

时势在动,人可以随之调整;只要根本方向正,随就能通达。

It means responding to the time and accepting change without losing the right direction.

雷在泽中,动中有收。 懂得随时休息,才不让顺势变成耗竭。

Ask yourself: When you adapt to a new environment, how do you balance following others with staying true to your own direction?

不妨问自己:当你适应新环境时,你如何平衡跟随他人与坚持自己的方向?