Hexagram 17 Suí (隨): Following, Meaning and Six Lines
The seventeenth hexagram of the I Ching: Thunder beneath the Lake, following with discernment. Judgement, six lines, moving lines and a careful reading of Following.
Key points
| Number | 17 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 隨 (Suí) |
| Approximate pronunciation | sway |
| French name (tradition followed here) | Sui, la Suite (Following) |
| Lower trigram (inner) | Zhen, Thunder |
| Upper trigram (outer) | Dui, Lake |
| Lines, bottom to top | yang / yin / yin / yang / yang / yin |
| Twin hexagram | No. 18, Gu, Work on What Has Been Spoiled |
Hexagram 17: Suí (隨), name and composition
Hexagram 17 is called “Following” or “Following Along”. It speaks of the ability to follow: a leader, an era, an idea, the course of events, but always with discernment.
Hexagram 17 is written 隨 (in simplified characters: 随) and transcribed Suí in pinyin; it is pronounced roughly “sway”. It is made of two trigrams stacked on top of each other: below, inside, Zhen (Thunder); above, outside, Dui (Lake). The overall image is therefore the Lake above the Thunder.
The six lines, from bottom to top, are: yang (solid), yin (broken), yin (broken), yang (solid), yang (solid), yin (broken). In the King Wen sequence it forms a pair with hexagram 18 (Gu, Work on What Has Been Spoiled), which is both its reverse (upside down) and its inverse (each line changes nature).
The judgement in brief
The judgement is favourable on every count: great success, perseverance is advantageous, no blame. Yet following is only favourable if it is right: the text insists on choosing what you follow.
General meaning
The Lake lies above the Thunder: at evening, the thunder retreats into the lake. It is the image of rest after momentum, and of adapting to the rhythm of the seasons. The Thunder trigram, the elder, passes beneath the Lake, the younger: whoever has strength places it at the service of someone gentler. Following is not submitting; it is learning to fall in step.
For a leader to be followed, they must themselves follow principles. For a follower not to be lost, they must choose. The lines point to choices: changing direction when circumstances change, preferring maturity to inexperience, tying one’s loyalty to what is excellent.
The six lines, one by one
The lines are counted from bottom to top. Below, in our own words, is the image the ancient text attaches to each one; the last column gives the hexagram obtained if that line alone is moving.
| Line | Nature | Summarised image | If it is moving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yang (solid) | The direction changes: staying steadfast is good; going out and meeting people brings results. | No. 45 (Cui) |
| 2 | yin (broken) | Clinging to the young boy and losing the mature man: a poor choice of companions. | No. 58 (Dui) |
| 3 | yin (broken) | Clinging to the mature man and losing the young boy: choosing maturity, you obtain what you seek by staying firm. | No. 49 (Ge) |
| 4 | yang (solid) | Following brings gains, but persevering in that role is risky; with sincerity and clarity, no blame. | No. 3 (Zhun) |
| 5 | yang (solid) | Sincerity towards what is excellent: good fortune. | No. 51 (Zhen) |
| 6 | yin (broken) | Bound and held firmly: a loyalty that takes on an almost sacred character (the king makes an offering on the mountain in the west). | No. 25 (Wu Wang) |
Moving lines
A moving line is a line that the casting marks as unstable: you read its own text, then it changes into its opposite, which gives a second hexagram, read as the direction the situation is taking. A moving yang line is called “nine”, a moving yin line “six”. Without a moving line, you keep to the general judgement.
For Sui, a moving line places your way of following: accepting a change of course, avoiding a poor choice of companions, preferring maturity, staying sincere in a risky role, honouring what is excellent, or going as far as total loyalty.
A modern reading, with care
Today, Sui is often read in relation to loyalty to a leader, a teacher or an idea. A careful reading keeps the question of discernment: who, what, and why follow? It also applies to leaders: being followed requires having principles oneself. Nothing indicates that following is preferable to deciding alone.
Questions for reflection
- Who or what am I following, and why?
- Do my fellow travellers lift me up or hold me back?
- Am I ready to change course if circumstances require it?
- What should I follow in my own sincerity?
Mistakes to avoid
- Following out of habit or fear of displeasing.
- Confusing following with submitting.
- Choosing companions for comfort rather than for maturity.
- Clinging so tightly that you lose your freedom, as the last line may suggest.
Names, translations and a reminder
The French name “Sui, la Suite” follows one translation tradition among others. Other translations speak of Following Along, Adaptation or Succession; the character 隨 is linked to the idea of walking behind someone. Compare two translations if you can.
A reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, consulted as a tool for reflection, never as a prediction; it does not replace medical, legal, financial or safety advice. This page summarises the text in our own words.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 17 of the I Ching mean?
It is the hexagram of discernment in the way one follows: a leader, an idea, a rhythm. It speaks of choosing what is worth following.
Does Sui encourage obedience?
No. The judgement ties success to the rightness of what one follows. It asks you to choose, not to submit.
What does Thunder beneath the Lake mean?
The image is that of evening, when thunder retreats into the lake: rest after momentum, and strength placed at the service of the gentler.
What are the trigrams of hexagram 17?
Zhen (Thunder) below, inside, and Dui (Lake) above, outside.
What is the twin hexagram of number 17?
Number 18, Gu, Work on What Has Been Spoiled. In the King Wen sequence, hexagrams come in pairs, the second being both its reverse (upside down) and its inverse (each line changes nature).
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.