困 → 未濟
Hexagram 47: Oppression → Hexagram 64: Before Completion
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 5, 6).
Line 5
九五 劓刖。困于赤紱。乃徐有說。利用祭祀。
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。
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
光祀春成，陳寶雞鳴。陽鳥失道，不能自守。消亡無咎。舉事不成，自取凶咎。
The spring sacrifice is offered with radiance, the treasured rooster of Chen crows. The yang bird has lost its way, unable to keep its rightful watch. It fades and vanishes without blame. Undertakings come to nothing; one brings misfortune upon oneself.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
A lake without water, yet a sacred spring rite succeeds and the divine rooster of Chenbao crows at dawn. The Chenbao was Qin's most revered deity, housed at Chencang, where around 747 BC two spirit children appeared declaring 'He who obtains the female shall become hegemon; he who obtains the male shall become king.' They transformed into pheasants; the female settled as a stone idol that glowed like a meteor while wild roosters crowed in response. The city of Baoji takes its name from this cult. Yet the verse pivots sharply: the solar bird loses its way, unable to maintain its course. Ventures undertaken come to nothing, bringing blame upon oneself. From Oppression to Before Completion, fire above water can never quite boil it. Even with divine sanction, one who strays from the proper path will fail to reach the finish.
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