萃 → 噬嗑
Hexagram 45: Gathering Together → Hexagram 21: Biting Through
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 5, 6).
Line 1
初六 有孚不終。乃亂乃萃。若號一握為笑。勿恤。往无咎。
Six at the beginning means: If you are sincere, but not to the end, There will sometimes be confusion, sometimes gathering together. If you call out, Then after one grasp of the hand you can laugh again. Regret not. Going is without blame.
Line 5
九五 萃有位。无咎匪孚。元永貞。悔亡。
Nine in the fifth place means: If in gathering together one has position, This brings no blame. If there are some who are not yet sincerely in the work, Sublime and enduring perseverance is needed. Then remorse disappears.
Line 6
上六 齎咨涕洟。无咎。
Six at the top means: Lamenting and sighing, floods of tears. No blame.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
六爻既立，神明喜告。文定吉祥，康叔受福。
The six lines are established; the spirits gladly announce their counsel. The pattern is fixed, auspicious and blessed; Kang Shu receives his fortune.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Lake upon earth gives way to fire above thunder, where Biting Through dispenses decisive justice. The six lines are established and the spirits joyfully announce the verdict. The betrothal is auspiciously decided, and Kang Shu receives his blessing. Kang Shu was King Wen's eighth son and King Wu's younger brother, enfeoffed at Wei after the Duke of Zhou suppressed the Three Monitors rebellion. The Duke of Zhou composed the Kang Gao, Jiu Gao, and Zi Cai chapters of the Book of Documents to guide him. The phrase 'wen ding' refers to the formal betrothal divination that confirms a marriage. From Gathering to Biting Through, the assembled community finds clarity through proper ritual adjudication, cutting through confusion to establish legitimate bonds.
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