Hexagram 43: Breakthrough → Hexagram 59: Dispersion

Breakthrough
Lake / Heaven
Dispersion
Wind / Water
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 4, 6).

Line 1

初九 壯于前趾。往不勝為咎。

zhuàngvigorous
in
qiánadvancing
zhǐtoes
wǎnggoing forward
is not
shèngsuccessful
wéimaking
jiùmistakes

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。

zhuàngvigorous
in
qiúcheeks
yǒuassuming
xiōngmisfortune
jūnnoble
young one
guàiis decided
guàiin
all alone
xíngbut
and
rains
ruòas if
getting wet
yǒuwas
yùndispleasure
but no
jiùblame

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。

túnrump
without
skin
one's
xíngwalking
is second-rate
qiěfor now
qiānin tow
yángas
huǐregrets
wángwill
wénbut to hear
yánthis
is not
xìnto believe

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 6

上六 无號。終有凶。

there is
hàocall
zhōngthe end
yǒucould
xiōngunfortunate

Six at the top means: No cry. In the end misfortune comes.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramLake WindThe Joyous → The Gentle
Lower TrigramHeaven WaterThe Creative → The Deep

Yilin Verse

被服大冠,遊戲道門。以禮相終,身无殃患。

Wearing formal robes and tall cap, roaming and playing at the gate of the Way. Ending with propriety to the last; the body suffers no calamity.

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

Commentary

Lake risen above heaven disperses as wind moves over water. Wearing grand robes and a tall official cap, one wanders at the Gate of the Dao. Conducting all things with propriety to the end, one's person knows neither calamity nor misfortune. Unlike the previous verse's reckless courtship, here formal attire signals respect for proper form. The Daoist wandering is conducted in full ceremonial dress — spirit and structure united. From Breakthrough to Dispersion, the decisive act scatters what has congealed, as wind breaks up the ice on the water's surface. But this dispersion is benevolent: the stiff formality of court dress accompanies the free movement of spirit, and the result is a life completed without disaster. Ritual form, far from constraining the spirit, protects it.

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