Hexagram 47: Oppression → Hexagram 22: Grace

Oppression
Lake / Water
Grace
Mountain / Fire
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 6 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Line 1

初六 臀困于株木。入于幽谷。三歲不覿。

túnwith rump
kùnbeset
by
zhūcane
of wood
entering
into
yōuthe gloomy
valley
sānfor three
suìyears
not
覿seen face to face

Six at the beginning means: One sits oppressed under a bare tree And strays into a gloomy valley. For three years one sees nothing.

Line 2

九二 困于酒食。朱紱方來。利用享祀。征凶无咎。

kùnbeset
amidst
jiǔwine
shíand food
zhūthe scarlet
sashed nobles
fāngsuddenly
láiarrive
worthwhile
yòngand useful
xiǎngto offer up
the sacrifice + to give up this spirit
zhēnginitiative
xiōngbut

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 3

六三 困于石。據于蒺蔾。入于其宮。不見其妻。凶。

kùnbeset
by
shístone
seize
upon
thorns
brambles
entering
into
his
gōnghouse
but not
jiànseeing
his
wife
xiōngunfortunate

Six in the third place means: A man permits himself to be oppressed by stone, And leans on thorns and thistles. He enters the house and does not see his wife. Misfortune.

Line 4

九四 來徐徐。困于金車。吝。有終。

láiapproaching
slowly
so slowly
kùnbeset
in
jīnmetal
chēchariot
lìnbut the
yǒuhas
zhōngan end

Nine in the fourth place means: He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage. Humiliation, but the end is reached.

Line 5

九五 劓刖。困于赤紱。乃徐有說。利用祭祀。

nose cut off
yuèand feet cut off
kùnbeset
by
chìthe blush
sashed ministers
nǎiand only then
slowly
yǒugetting
shuōrelief
worthwhile
yòngand useful
to give
and a

Nine in the fifth place means: His nose and feet are cut off. Oppression at the hands of the man with the purple knee bands. Joy comes softly. It furthers one to make offerings and libations.

Line 6

上六 困于葛藟。于臲卼。曰動悔有悔。征吉。

kùnbeset
by
creeping
lěiand vines
proceeding
nièunsteadiliness
and awkwardly(ness)
yuēand
dòngthat action
huǐis
yǒuto have
huǐthe regret(s)
zhēngand expedite
is promising

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

Upper TrigramLake MountainThe Joyous → Keeping Still
Lower TrigramWater FireThe Deep → The Clinging

Yilin Verse

玩好亂目,巧聲迷耳。賊敗貞良,君受其咎。

Dazzling playthings confuse the eyes; cunning sounds beguile the ears. They corrupt and ruin the loyal and true; the lord bears the blame.

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

Commentary

A lake without water, and playthings dazzle the eyes while clever sounds bewitch the ears. These seductions ruin the upright and loyal, bringing blame upon the ruler. The verse diagnoses a specific pathology: a sovereign mesmerized by ornamental pleasures while his honest ministers are destroyed by slanderers who exploit the distraction. The pattern recurs throughout Chinese political history, from Shang Zhou's Wine Pool to the singing girls of Qi. From Oppression to Grace, fire glows beneath the mountain, illuminating surface beauty. Grace adorns but must not dominate substance. The gentleman uses this light to clarify governance, never daring to decide legal cases by surface appearance alone. When decoration usurps judgment, grace becomes a trap.

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