坎 → 屯
Hexagram 29: The Abysmal Water → Hexagram 3: Difficulty at the Beginning
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 1, 2).
Line 1
初六 習坎。入于坎窞。凶。
Six at the beginning means: Repetition of the Abysmal. In the abyss one falls into a pit. Misfortune.
Line 2
九二 坎有險。求小得。
Nine in the second place means: The abyss is dangerous. One should strive to attain small things only.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
重耳恭敏，遇讒出處。北奔狄戎，經涉齊楚。以秦代懷，誅殺子圉。身為霸主。
Chong'er was reverent and keen, yet met slander and was exiled. He fled north to the Di and Rong, passed through Qi and Chu. With Qin's aid he replaced Huai, and slew Ziyu. He became lord among the hegemons.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Water upon water, the doubled abyss mirrors nineteen years of exile. Chong Er, prince of Jin, was courteous and perceptive but fell victim to slander at court. He fled north to the Di barbarians, then traversed Qi and Chu, gathering loyal followers through every hardship. With Qin's military backing he replaced the usurper Huai and executed Ziyu, returning at last to become one of the Five Hegemons. The verse traces each station of his exile as a descent through successive dangers. From The Abysmal to Difficulty at the Beginning, the pattern fits precisely: clouds and thunder gather before the storm breaks, and the prince who endured repeated peril emerges to establish new order from chaos.
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