乾 → 困
Hexagram 1: The Creative → Hexagram 47: Oppression
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 6).
Line 1
初九 潛龍勿用。
Nine at the beginning means: Hidden dragon. Do not act.
Line 3
九三 君子終日乾乾。夕惕若厲。无咎。
Nine in the third place means: All day long the superior man is creatively active. At nightfall his mind is still beset with cares. Danger. No blame.
Line 6
上九 亢龍有悔。
Nine at the top means: Arrogant dragon will have cause to repent.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
噂噂所言，莫如我垣。歡喜堅固，可以長安。
The murmurs that are spoken are nothing like my wall. Rejoicing, steadfast and strong; one may dwell long in peace.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
People whisper and gossip, but none is as reliable as my own wall. When the foundation is joyful and solid, it provides lasting security. The Shijing ode 'Jie Nan Shan' warns against trusting the murmurs of flatterers; here the verse counsels trusting only the tangible protection of one's own structure. From Creative to Oppression, the lake sits above water but the water has drained away — emptiness beneath apparent fullness. Yet the verse inverts Kun's despair: amid a world of unreliable speech, the person who builds a solid wall rather than chasing rumors finds genuine comfort. Oppression is endured through the resolve to maintain one's own security rather than seeking rescue from fickle voices outside.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store