觀 → 革
Hexagram 20: Contemplation → Hexagram 49: Revolution
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 4, 6).
Line 1
初六 童觀。小人无咎。君子吝。
Six at the beginning means: Boy like contemplation. For an inferior man, no blame. For a superior man, humiliation.
Line 3
六三 觀我生進退。
Six in the third place means: Contemplation of my life Decides the choice Between advance and retreat.
Line 4
六四 觀國之光。利用賓于王。
Six in the fourth place means: Contemplation of the light of the kingdom. It furthers one to exert influence as the guest of a king.
Line 6
上九 觀其生。君子无咎。
Nine at the top means: Contemplation of his life. The superior man is without blame.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
黃裏綠衣，君服不宜；淫湎毀常，失其寵光。
Yellow lining and green outer robe, garments unfitting for the lord; dissolute excess ruins the constant way -- he loses his favored brilliance.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind over earth observes a court in disorder of dress and morals. Yellow lining with a green outer robe — the ruler wears improper garments. This echoes the Shijing ode 'Lv Yi' from the Airs of Wei, where reversed colors symbolize a concubine displacing the rightful wife: yellow, the nobler color, is hidden inside while green, the lesser, shows on the surface. Excess and dissolution destroy proper custom, and favor's radiance is lost. Lake over fire forms Revolution, which transforms what has decayed through decisive change. From Contemplation to Revolution, the observer identifies what must be overthrown: when inside and outside, noble and base, are inverted, only revolutionary correction can restore the proper order of colors — and values.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store