困 → 漸
Hexagram 47: Oppression → Hexagram 53: Development
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 2, 3, 4, 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 3
六三 困于石。據于蒺蔾。入于其宮。不見其妻。凶。
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。
Nine in the fourth place means: He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage. Humiliation, but the end is reached.
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
搏髀大笑，不知憂懼。開立大路，為主所召。
Slapping his thigh and laughing greatly, knowing neither worry nor dread. A great road opens before him; the master sends his summons.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
A lake without water, yet someone slaps his thigh and roars with laughter, knowing neither worry nor fear. A great road opens before him, and he is summoned by the lord. The thigh-slapping laughter captures the boisterous confidence of a man who knows his moment has arrived. The fear that should accompany oppression is simply absent; in its place stands audacious self-assurance. From Oppression to Development, wood grows gradually upon the mountain, and the gentleman dwells in worthy virtue to improve customs. Development's pace is incremental, a wild goose advancing step by careful step. But this verse suggests that the summons, when it comes, arrives not through cautious progress but through an explosive moment of recognition. The road that opens is wide and sudden, and the one summoned strides onto it laughing.
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