Hexagram 32: Duration → Hexagram 1: The Creative

Duration
Thunder / Wind
The Creative
Heaven / Heaven
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 5, 6).

Line 1

初六 浚恆貞凶。无攸利。

jùndig
héngfor
zhēnpersistence
xiōngis disappointing
this is no
yōua direction
with merit

Six at the beginning means: Seeking duration too hastily brings misfortune persistently. Nothing that would further.

Line 5

六五 恒其德貞。婦人吉。夫子凶。

héngcontinuity
in
character
zhēnis
for a
rénmaturity
is promising
for a
youth
xiōngis

Six in the fifth place means: Giving duration to one's character through perseverance. This is good fortune for a woman, misfortune for a man.

Line 6

上六 振恆凶。

zhènexcited
héngcontinuously
xiōngunfortunate

Six at the top means: Restlessness as an enduring condition brings misfortune.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramThunder HeavenThe Arousing → The Creative
Lower TrigramWind HeavenThe Gentle → The Creative

Yilin Verse

登墀踒足,南行折角,長夜之室,不逢忠直。

Ascending the terrace, the foot twists; going south, the horn breaks. In the long chamber of night, one finds no loyal or upright counsel.

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

Commentary

Thunder above wind, the image of Duration, gives way to doubled heaven — the Creative's pure self-generating force. A man ascends the palace steps but twists his foot; heading south, he breaks his horn. In the long night's chamber, no loyal and upright counselor can be found. Duration promises constancy, but here persistence meets only injury: the steady walk falters, the southward advance snaps. When the enduring pattern transforms into pure initiative, the transition demands strength the subject lacks. From Duration to the Creative, the shift from steady rhythm to unrelenting drive overwhelms one who mistakes habit for capacity. Without honest counsel to correct the course, the chamber remains dark and the stumble becomes a fall.

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