坤 → 益
Hexagram 2: The Receptive → Hexagram 42: Increase
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 5, 6).
Line 1
初六 履霜堅冰至。
Six at the beginning means: When there is hoarfrost underfoot, Solid ice is not far off.
Line 5
六五 黃裳。元吉。
Six in the fifth place means: A yellow lower garment brings supreme good fortune.
Line 6
上六 龍戰于野。其血玄黃。
Six at the top means: Dragons fight in the meadow. Their blood is black and yellow.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
鶴盜我珠，逃於東隅。求之郭墟，不見所居。
The crane steals my pearl and escapes to the eastern corner. Searching the ruined market; its dwelling cannot be found.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Earth upon earth transforms into wind above thunder — Increase. A crane steals one's pearl and escapes to the eastern corner. Searching through the market ruins, one cannot find where it dwells. Wind and thunder, the image of Yi, represent increase — the ruler decreases himself to benefit the people. Yet the verse describes loss: the pearl is stolen, the thief vanishes, and the search is fruitless. The crane, normally an auspicious bird symbolizing hidden talent, here acts as trickster. From the Receptive to Increase, the earth's open ground should facilitate growth, but what has been increased is the thief's gain at the owner's expense. The verse offers a cautionary note on Yi's mechanism: increase for one may mean decrease for another, and not every increase flows in the intended direction.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store