坤 → 既濟
Hexagram 2: The Receptive → Hexagram 63: After Completion
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 5).
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 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
持刀操肉，對酒不食。夫行從軍，小子入獄，抱膝獨宿。
Holding knife, grasping meat; facing wine yet not eating. The husband has gone to war; the young son is in prison. Embracing the knees, sleeping alone.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Earth upon earth yields to water above fire — After Completion. Holding a knife and facing meat, confronting wine yet unable to eat. The husband has marched off to war, the young son is imprisoned; one embraces one's knees and sleeps alone. Water above fire, the image of Ji Ji, shows everything in its proper place — fire below heats water above, the ideal arrangement. Yet the verse paints desolation: food is present but cannot be consumed because those who should share it are gone. From the Receptive to After Completion, the earth has provided everything — meat, wine, sustenance — but completion without companionship is hollow. Ji Ji warns that even the most perfect arrangement can unravel: the order is right, but the people are missing. After Completion is also the beginning of reversal.
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