蠱 → 萃
Hexagram 18: Work on the Decayed → Hexagram 45: Gathering Together
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 5 changing lines (lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
Line 2
九二 幹母之蠱。不可貞。
Nine in the second place means: Setting right what has been spoiled by the mother. One must not be too persevering.
Line 3
九三 幹父之蠱。小有悔。无大咎。
Nine in the third place means: Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. There will be a little remorse. No great blame.
Line 4
六四 裕父之蠱。往見吝。
Six in the fourth place means: Tolerating what has been spoiled by the father. In continuing one sees humiliation.
Line 5
六五 幹父之蠱。用譽。
Six in the fifth place means: Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. One meets with praise.
Line 6
上九 不事王侯。高尚其事。
Nine at the top means: He does not serve kings and princes, Sets himself higher goals.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
虎豹爭強，道閉不通；小人讙訟，貪夫受空。
Tiger and leopard contend for dominance; the road is blocked and impassable. Petty men raise clamorous suits; the greedy man is left with nothing.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind beneath the mountain looses predators, and the transformation descends to the lake upon the earth — the anxious Gathering of Cui. Tigers and leopards contend for supremacy; the roads are sealed and blocked. Petty men raise their clamor in litigation while the greedy are left empty-handed. The power vacuum created by decay invites predators: the strong devour the strong while the weak cry out in futile protest. From Work on the Decayed to Gathering, the corrupted situation demands that people band together despite mutual distrust. The lake upon the earth gathers what flows to it — but this gathering requires vigilance. The gentleman prepares weapons and guards against the unexpected, for even at the assembly, predators lurk.
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