損 → 革

Commentary

Mountain above lake gives way to lake above fire — Revolution, where old structures are consumed and replaced. Mountains block the way on all four sides, cutting off the path entirely. One wishes to advance but cannot; one turns back to the place of origin. The verse depicts total encirclement — a traveler hemmed in by terrain with no way through. From Decrease to Revolution, the mountain becomes the lake that quenches fire: the revolutionary impulse is drowned before it can ignite. Revolution demands that old forms be burned away, but here the old terrain refuses to yield. Decrease has removed the resources for breakthrough without creating an opening. The traveler who returns to the starting point has lost both ground and supplies — revolution attempted without sufficient preparation ends in retreat.