---
title: 水天需 — Waiting (Hexagram 5)
lang: en
canonical: https://ekidan.ai/library/5
alternates:
  - ja: https://ekidan.ai/ja/library/5
  - zh-Hant: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/5
  - zh-TW: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/5
  - zh-HK: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/5
source: 高島易断 (Takashima Ekidan), public-domain 1893 English and 1901 Chinese editions
provider: ekidan.ai — AI-assisted I Ching reading grounded in 88 source-verified historical Takashima cases
license: Classical source text is public domain. This structured edition and its modern commentary are © ICHING LLC, ekidan.ai. Attribution requested when quoted.
---

# 水天需 · Waiting — Hexagram 5

Hexagram 5 of the I Ching is 水天需 (Waiting). Clouds rise to heaven, awaiting rain. Nourish yourself and wait; haste invites trouble. Be sincere in waiting; tend body and household.

## Work / Relationships / Health

- **Work**: The plan is ready, the moment is not — keep polishing.
- **Relationships**: Do not press for an answer; warm the heart and wait.
- **Health**: Digestion and fluid retention — eat moderately.

## Structure

- Number: 5
- Name: 水天需
- English: Waiting
- Romaji: sui-ten-ju
- Pinyin: xū
- Upper: 水 (Water)
- Lower: 天 (Heaven)
- Lines (top to bottom):

```text
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
```

## Questions about this hexagram

### What does hexagram 5 (水天需) mean?

Clouds rise to heaven, awaiting rain. Nourish yourself and wait; haste invites trouble.

### What does 水天需 counsel?

Be sincere in waiting; tend body and household.

### What does 水天需 say about work?

The plan is ready, the moment is not — keep polishing.

### What does 水天需 say about relationships?

Do not press for an answer; warm the heart and wait.

### What does 水天需 say about health?

Digestion and fluid retention — eat moderately.

### Which trigrams make up hexagram 5?

Upper trigram 水 (Water) over lower trigram 天 (Heaven).


Source: [Takashima Ekidan AI — ekidan.ai](https://ekidan.ai/library/5)