損 → 井

Commentary

Mountain above lake becomes water above wind — the Well, an inexhaustible source that nourishes without being depleted. 'When Qin lost its deer, the swift runner seized it first.' This famous phrase from Kuai Tong's speech in the Shiji describes the collapse of the Qin dynasty as a deer escaping its owner — whoever runs fastest claims the empire. Brave men rally to righteousness; the gentleman changes his garments, adopting a new role for a new age. From Decrease to the Well, the mountain dissolves while water rises through wood — the well's eternal cycle of drawing from below. The deer metaphor captures the moment of dynastic transition: when the old order decreases to nothing, a fresh source must be found. The Well never runs dry; the gentleman who changes costume survives the revolution.