Hexagram 47: Oppression → Hexagram 35: Progress

Oppression
Lake / Water
Progress
Fire / Earth
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

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

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 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 FireThe Joyous → The Clinging
Lower TrigramWater EarthThe Deep → The Receptive

Yilin Verse

南有嘉魚,駕黃取鱗。魴鯉瀰瀰,利來无憂。

In the south there are fine fish; one drives the yellow-scaled boat to take them. Bream and carp in great abundance; profit comes without sorrow.

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

Commentary

A lake without water, yet in the south fine fish abound. Yellow teams are harnessed to haul in the catch; bream and carp teem in profusion, and profit comes without worry. The verse echoes the Shijing ode 'Nan You Jia Yu': 'In the south there are fine fish; we use our nets to catch them.' The abundance of fish symbolizes the blessings that flow from benevolent governance, the natural world responding to the ruler's virtue. From Oppression to Progress, fire rises above the earth, and the gentleman manifests his own bright virtue. The dawn that breaks over the southern waters is Progress's defining image: light emerging from the ground. Oppression yields to natural bounty when the right approach is taken, as easily as fish swim into a waiting net.

The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store

Related Pages