大過小過

Hexagram 28: Great Exceeding → Hexagram 62: Small Exceeding

大過
Great Exceeding
Lake / Wind
小過
Small Exceeding
Thunder / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 2, 5).

Line 2

九二 枯楊生稊。老夫得其女妻。无不利。

the withered
yángpoplar
shēngsends out
a new
lǎothe old
gentleman
finds
his own
a maiden
companion
without
doubt
worthwhile

Nine in the second place means: A dry poplar sprouts at the root. An older man takes a young wife. Everything furthers.

Line 5

九五 枯楊生華。老婦得其士夫。无咎无譽。

the withered
yángpoplar
shēngsends out
huáflowers
lǎothe old
woman
finds
her own
shìa young gentleman
as husband
no
jiùto blame
no
to praise

Nine in the fifth place means: A withered poplar puts forth flowers. An older woman takes a husband. No blame. No praise.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramLake ThunderThe Joyous → The Arousing
Lower TrigramWind MountainThe Gentle → Keeping Still

Yilin Verse

兩心相悅,共其柔筋。夙夜在公,不離房中。得君子意。

Two hearts delighting in each other; sharing their gentle tenderness. Morning and night in devoted service; they do not leave the chamber. Gaining the noble one’s favor.

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

Commentary

Lake over wind settles into thunder above mountain — Small Exceeding, where small things succeed but great things do not. Two hearts delight in each other, sharing tender intimacy. Day and night devoted to duty, one does not leave the chamber, and wins the gentleman's favor. The verse is a love poem of quiet contentment: mutual attraction, physical closeness, and the reward of constant devotion. 'Day and night in service, never leaving the room' suggests both romantic intimacy and faithful attendance. Small Exceeding's image — a bird in flight — counsels staying low rather than soaring high. From Great Exceeding to Small Exceeding, overwhelming force is miniaturized into intimate, careful attention. The verse celebrates the small excess of devotion: not grand gestures but the steady presence that earns lasting affection.

The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store

Related Pages