困 → 否
Hexagram 47: Oppression → Hexagram 12: Standstill
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 2, 6).
Line 2
九二 困于酒食。朱紱方來。利用享祀。征凶无咎。
Nine in the second place means: One is oppressed while at meat and drink. The man with the scarlet knee bands is just coming. It furthers one to offer sacrifice. To set forth brings misfortune. No blame.
Line 6
上六 困于葛藟。于臲卼。曰動悔有悔。征吉。
Six at the top means: He is oppressed by creeping vines. He moves uncertainly and says, "Movement brings remorse. " If one feels remorse over this and makes a start, Good fortune comes.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
薄為災虐，風吹雲卻。欲上不得，復歸其宅。
Calamity strikes with cruel force; wind blows the clouds away. Wanting to rise but unable, one returns again to one's abode.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
A lake without water: thin and meager forces bring calamity, wind scatters the clouds. One wishes to rise but cannot, and returns instead to one's dwelling. The verse captures frustrated ambition: the resources are too slight to mount a challenge, and nature itself conspires to disperse whatever gathers. The wind that should carry the clouds upward blows them apart. From Oppression to Standstill, heaven and earth cease to communicate. The gentleman withdraws into frugal virtue to avoid harm. This is not defeat but strategic retreat: the clouds that cannot gather, the ambition that cannot ascend, must accept the season of non-interaction. Returning home is not failure but prudent self-preservation when the cosmic currents run against one.
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