坤 → 蹇
Hexagram 2: The Receptive → Hexagram 39: Obstruction
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 3, 5).
Line 3
六三 含章可貞。或從王事。无成有終。
Six in the third place means: Hidden lines. One is able to remain persevering. If by chance you are in the service of a king, Seek not works, but bring to completion.
Line 5
六五 黃裳。元吉。
Six in the fifth place means: A yellow lower garment brings supreme good fortune.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
三人逐兔，各爭有得。愛亡善走，多獲鹿子。
Three men chase a rabbit, each striving to take it. Forgetting love, prizing speed; they catch many fawns instead.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Earth upon earth yields to water above mountain — Obstruction. Three men chase a rabbit, each competing to catch it. In their eagerness they let the prey escape, but end up capturing many fawns instead. Water atop the mountain, the image of Jian, represents obstruction — the path forward is treacherous and steep. Yet the verse offers an unexpected consolation: the original quarry escapes, but something else of value appears. The three hunters' competition creates the very obstruction that loses the rabbit, yet their combined effort drives other game toward them. From the Receptive to Obstruction, the earth's open ground becomes the mountain's difficult terrain. Jian's wisdom is to turn back and reflect (fan shen xiu de): when the direct path fails, the indirect reward may prove more generous.
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