Hexagram 15: Modesty → Hexagram 31: Influence

Modesty
Earth / Mountain
Influence
Lake / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 4, 5).

Line 4

六四 无不利撝謙。

without
doubt
worthwhile
huīwith
qiānof authenticity

Six in the fourth place means: Nothing that would not further modesty In movement.

Line 5

六五 不富以其鄰。利用侵伐。无不利。

there is no
enrichment
making use of
one's
línneighbors
it is worthwhile
yòngand useful
qīnto occupy
and subjugate
without
doubt
worthwhile

Six in the fifth place means: No boasting of wealth before one's neighbor. It is favorable to attack with force. Nothing that would not further.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramEarth LakeThe Receptive → The Joyous
Lower TrigramMountain Mountain

Yilin Verse

齊魯爭言,戰於龍門;搆怨致禍,三歲不安。

Qi and Lu trade harsh words; they battle at Longmen. Nursing grudges, inviting disaster; three years know no peace.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Earth holds the mountain still, but Qi and Lu are locked in bitter dispute, battling at Dragon Gate. Grudges breed catastrophe, and for three years there is no peace. Dragon Gate — the gorge carved by Yu — here serves as a contested battleground rather than a site of transformation. The verse inverts its usual symbolism: instead of fish leaping to become dragons, armies clash at the pass. From Modesty to Influence, the lake rests upon the mountain, the image of receptive sensitivity. Yet the verse shows Influence's shadow: when mutual sensitivity becomes mutual grievance, every provocation resonates and amplifies into prolonged conflict. Modesty's restraint, when abandoned by both parties, yields to the echo chamber of escalating resentment.

The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store

Related Pages