夬 → 蒙
Hexagram 43: Breakthrough → Hexagram 4: Youthful Folly
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 5 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6).
Line 1
初九 壯于前趾。往不勝為咎。
Nine at the beginning means: Mighty in the forward-striding toes. When one goes and is not equal to the task, One makes a mistake.
Line 3
九三 壯于頄。有凶。君子夬夬。獨行遇雨。若濡有慍。无咎。
Nine in the third place means: To be powerful in the cheekbones Brings misfortune. The superior man is firmly resolved. He walks alone and is caught in the rain. He is bespattered, And people murmur against him. No blame.
Line 4
九四 臀无膚。其行次且。牽羊悔亡。聞言不信。
Nine in the fourth place means: There is no skin on his thighs, And walking comes hard. If a man were to let himself be led like a sheep, Remorse would disappear. But if these words are heard They will not be believed.
Line 5
九五 莧陸夬夬。中行无咎。
Nine in the fifth place means: In dealing with weeds, Firm resolution is necessary. Walking in the middle Remains free of blame.
Line 6
上六 无號。終有凶。
Six at the top means: No cry. In the end misfortune comes.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
鳧鷖遊涇，君子以寧。履德不愆，福祿來成。
A jade-green lake, windless, flat as a mirror. A white egret stands on a rock, calling without alarm. Weeping willows half-conceal a thatched pavilion — one pot of clear wine, accompanied by the bright moon.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Lake risen above heaven yields to the spring that emerges beneath the mountain. The original verse reads: 'Wild ducks and gulls swim the Jing River; the gentleman finds peace. Walking in virtue without error, blessings and good fortune come to completion.' Waterfowl glide peacefully on clear water, embodying the naturalness of one who lives in accord with principle. There is no striving, only a quiet alignment with what is right — and from this, prosperity follows of itself. From Breakthrough to Youthful Folly, decisive force gives way to innocence and discovery. The spring emerging from the mountain's base does not force its path; it simply flows where the terrain allows. True peace comes not from breaking through obstacles but from the unstudied simplicity of correct conduct.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store