P'i / Standstill [Stagnation]

above: Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven
below: K'un The Receptive, Earth

The fifth [nine], undivided, we see him who brings the distress and obstruction to a close; the great man and fortunate. (But let him say) "We may perish! We may perish!" (so shall the state of things become firm, as if) bound to a clump of bushy mulberry trees.

The strong line in the fifth, (its correct), place, brings the distress and obstruction to a close. Yet its subject - the ruler in the hexagram - is warned to continue to be cautious in two lines of rhyme: - 'And let him say, "I die! I die!" So to a bushy clump his fortune he shall tie.'