第十七卦 · 17Hexagram 17随 · SUÍSUÍ

泽雷随Suí · Following

兑上 · 震下Lake over Thunder

卦辞The Judgement

随：元亨，利贞，无咎。Suí. Sublimely prosperous and smooth. Favorable to be steadfast and upright. No fault.

顺应变化、随机应变是当下的关键。震雷在下属木居东方，兑泽在上属金居西方——金克木，本是克制关系。但随卦的雷藏进泽里，跟着泽水的节奏走，克就被化解了。不要固守旧的方式或观念——时势在变，跟着潮流和环境走才能不被淘汰。但“随”不是没原则——要随正道、随时机，不是随波逐流。

Adapting to change, responding to circumstance, is the key right now. Zhèn's Thunder below is element Wood, in the east; Duì's Lake above is element Metal, in the west — Metal checks Wood, a relationship of restraint by nature. But in the Following hexagram the thunder tucks itself into the lake and moves to the water's rhythm, and the checking is dissolved. Don't cling to old ways or old views — the times are shifting, and only by moving with the current and the environment do you avoid being left behind. But "following" isn't being unprincipled — follow the right path and the right timing, not just the drift of the crowd.

大象The Image

《象》曰：泽中有雷，随；君子以嚮晦入宴息。Thunder lies within the lake: the image of Following. The noble one, accordingly, goes indoors to rest as darkness falls.

六爻The Six Lines

初九Initial Nine

初九，官有渝，贞吉；出门交有功。The office undergoes a change. Steadfast and upright: good fortune. Going out to mingle brings results.

状态或环境正在变化，要跟着调整。震雷初爻，雷刚从地下冒出——第一声雷，方向还没定。这时多走出去和不同的人交流——闭门造车不行，开放接触才能找到方向。

Your situation or surroundings are shifting, and you need to adjust with them. Zhèn's Thunder, first line, the thunder just breaking out of the ground — the first clap, direction not yet set. This is a time to get out and exchange with different people — working behind closed doors won't do; openness is how you find direction.

六二Second Six

六二，系小子，失丈夫。Tied to the little one, losing the great one.

不要因为贪图眼前的小利益（小子）而失去真正重要的人或机会（丈夫）。震木被兑金克制——小恩小惠是金的引诱，别让木忘了自己的根。眼光要放长远，分清主次。

Don't lose the person or opportunity that truly matters (the great one) by grasping at the small gain in front of you (the little one). Zhèn's Wood checked by Duì's Metal — the small favor is the metal's lure; don't let the wood forget its own roots. Keep the long view; sort what's primary from what's secondary.

六三Third Six

六三，系丈夫，失小子；随有求得，利居贞。Tied to the great one, losing the little one. In following, one gains what one seeks. Favorable to remain steadfast and upright.

选择跟随真正有价值的人或方向（丈夫），舍弃低层次的东西（小子）。震木到三爻，根扎深了——能分辨谁是真正滋养自己的。能放下次要的，才能得到真正想要的。

Choose to follow what truly has value — the right person, the right direction — and let go of the lower-grade things. Zhèn's Wood at the third line, roots dug deep — able to tell who truly nourishes it. Only by releasing the secondary can you get hold of what you really want.

九四Fourth Nine

九四，随有获，贞凶；有孚在道，以明，何咎！Following brings gains. Steadfastness: misfortune. Be sincere, walk the right way, make the purpose clear — what fault could there be?

在追随过程中如果获得了好处，要警惕——所谓的好处可能是陷阱。九四阳爻进入兑泽——泽水表面平静，底下有暗流。保持原则、心怀诚意，光明正大地行事，才不会出错。

If gains come to you in the course of following, be wary — the "benefit" may be a trap. The fourth line, yang, enters Duì's Lake — the surface calm, an undercurrent beneath. Hold to your principles, carry honest intent, act in the open, and you won't go wrong.

九五Fifth Nine

九五，孚于嘉，吉。Sincere toward the excellent. Good fortune.

诚信地追随美好的事物或人——九五阳爻居兑泽正中——泽水最清澈的位置，诚信就是这汪清水，这是最好的状态。坚持自己内心的标准，不为利益所动。

Following what is genuinely good, with sincerity — the fifth line, yang, in the very center of Duì's Lake — the clearest water, and sincerity is that pool of clear water — this is the best state. Hold to your own inner standard, unmoved by self-interest.

上六Top Six

上六，拘系之，乃从，维之；王用亨于西山。Held fast and bound, then bound again. The king makes offering on the western mountain.

已经被深度绑定、无法脱身了——兑泽到极处——水流到尽头，被收住了，但如果绑定的对象是值得的，这反而是好事。问问自己：我跟随的，值得我这样投入吗？

You're already deeply tied in, unable to step away — Duì's Lake at its extreme — the current reaches its end and is gathered in — but if what you're bound to is worthy, that's actually a good thing. Ask yourself: is the thing I follow worth committing this much to?