Hexagram 20: Contemplation → Hexagram 53: Development

Contemplation
Wind / Earth
Development
Wind / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 1 changing line (line 3).

Line 3

六三 觀我生進退。

guānperceiving
our
shēnglives
jìnas
退tuìand

Six in the third place means: Contemplation of my life Decides the choice Between advance and retreat.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramWind Wind
Lower TrigramEarth MountainThe Receptive → Keeping Still

Yilin Verse

衘騂從龍,至于華東;與離相逢,送致于邦。

Bearing a scarlet horse, one follows the dragon eastward to Hua; meeting Li along the way -- it is escorted to the realm.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Wind over earth observes a sacred procession. Leading a red sacrificial bull in the dragon's train, one arrives at the eastern region of Hua. There, meeting with the spirit of departure, the offering is escorted safely to the capital. The red bull (xing) is the proper color for royal sacrifice; following the dragon suggests heavenly mandate. The journey eastward to Mount Hua and onward to the city enacts a ritual completion. Wind over mountain forms Development, the gradual progress of a wild goose landing in stages. From Contemplation to Development, the procession embodies measured, ceremonial advance: each step is proper, each station observed, until the offering reaches its destination in due order, like the goose settling stage by stage upon the shore.

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