小過

Hexagram 48: The Well → Hexagram 62: Small Exceeding

The Well
Water / Wind
小過
Small Exceeding
Thunder / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

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

Line 2

九二 井谷射鮒。甕敝漏。

jǐngthe well
is empty
shèaim
the fish
wèngits earthen bucket
is cracked
lòuand leaking

Nine in the second place means: At the wellhole one shoots fishes. The jug is broken and leaks.

Line 4

六四 井甃无咎。

jǐngthe well is being
zhòure- lined
no
jiùblame

Six in the fourth place means: The well is being lined. No blame.

Line 5

九五 井冽。寒泉食。

jǐngthe well
lièis
háncold
quánspring
shíto drink

Nine in the fifth place means: In the well there is a clear, cold spring From which one can drink.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramWater ThunderThe Deep → The Arousing
Lower TrigramWind MountainThe Gentle → Keeping Still

Yilin Verse

十羊俱見,黃頭為首。歲美民安,國樂无咎。

Ten sheep appear together; the tawny-headed one leads as chief. The year is bountiful, the people at peace; the state rejoices, and there is no fault.

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

Commentary

Water drawn up through wood, the well supports the flock that gathers around it. Ten rams appear together, with the yellow-headed one as leader. The year is bountiful, the people are at peace, and the state enjoys happiness without blame. Yellow, the color of earth and the center, marks the leading ram as the properly positioned authority. The flock following its leader in a year of plenty captures the ideal of modest, orderly prosperity. From The Well to Small Exceeding, thunder above the mountain slightly oversteps the norm. The well's generosity, guided by the yellow ram's steady leadership, stays within the gentle excess of Xiaoguo: surpassing in courtesy, in frugality, in care — never in aggression or arrogance.

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

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