坎 → 大壯
Hexagram 29: The Abysmal Water → Hexagram 34: Great Power
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 4, 5).
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 3
六三 來之坎坎。險且枕。入于坎窞。勿用。
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。
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。
Nine in the fifth place means: The abyss is not filled to overflowing, It is filled only to the rim. No blame.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
乘船渡濟，載冰逢火，賴得免患，蒙我所恃。
Boarding a boat to cross the ford; carrying ice, one meets fire. Thanks to this, disaster is averted; I rely on what sustains me.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Water upon water, the traveler boards a boat to cross the river. Carrying a load of ice, the vessel encounters fire — what should destroy the cargo instead saves the passenger, dissolving the ice-burden and lightening the ship. Danger is overcome thanks to what one already possesses. From The Abysmal to Great Power, water's peril transforms into thunder roaring in heaven — overwhelming force that tolerates no obstacle. The fire that melts the ice is the very energy of Great Power: what seemed a threat becomes the instrument of liberation. The passenger relies on this force, and what could have sunk the boat instead frees it. Danger met with decisive power converts liability into deliverance.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store