Hexagram 29: The Abysmal Water → Hexagram 32: Duration

The Abysmal Water
Water / Water
Duration
Thunder / Wind
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 3, 4, 5).

Line 3

六三 來之坎坎。險且枕。入于坎窞。勿用。

láicoming
zhīand going
kǎnpit
kǎnafter pit
xiǎnthe narrow ledge
qiěis
zhěna resting place to rest
to enter
into
kǎnthe canyon's
dànhidden
is
yònguseful

Six in the third place means: Forward and backward, abyss on abyss. In danger like this, pause at first and wait, Otherwise you will fall into a pit in the abyss. Do not act this way.

Line 4

六四 樽酒簋貳。用缶。納約自牖。終无咎。

zūna jug
jiǔof wine
guǐa simple bamboo basket
èror two
yòngand utensils
fǒuof clay
handed
yuēsimply
through
yǒuthe window
zhōngin the end
no
jiùblame

Six in the fourth place means: A jug of wine, a bowl of rice with it; Earthen vessels Simply handed in through the Window. There is certainly no blame in this.

Line 5

九五 坎不盈。祗既平。无咎。

kǎnthe pit
is not
yíngoverly full
zhīto respect
attained
píngits level
no
jiùblame

Nine in the fifth place means: The abyss is not filled to overflowing, It is filled only to the rim. No blame.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramWater ThunderThe Deep → The Arousing
Lower TrigramWater WindThe Deep → The Gentle

Yilin Verse

金革白黃,宜利戒市。嫁娶有息,商人悅喜。

Metal and leather, white and yellow; fit for the market of caution and trade. Marriages find rest; merchants are pleased and glad.

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

Commentary

Water upon water, yet the marketplace thrives. Gold, leather, and goods of white and yellow — the materials of arms and commerce intermingle. It is favorable to prepare and trade. Marriages find their rest, and merchants rejoice with satisfaction. The verse describes a settled, prosperous commercial scene where military goods and civilian trade coexist in balance. From The Abysmal to Duration, thunder and wind reinforce each other in an enduring pattern. The markets, marriages, and metal-trading of this verse embody Duration's principle: stability not as stasis but as rhythmic, self-sustaining exchange. The gentleman stands firm without changing direction, and commerce steadily circulates.

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