革 → 睽
Hexagram 49: Revolution → Hexagram 38: Opposition
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 2, 3, 5, 6).
Line 2
六二 巳日乃革之。征吉无咎。
Six in the second place means: When one's own day comes, one may create revolution. Starting brings good fortune. No blame.
Line 3
九三 征凶貞厲。革言三就。有孚。
Nine in the third place means: Starting brings misfortune. Perseverance brings danger. When talk of revolution has gone the rounds three times, One may commit himself, And men will believe him.
Line 5
九五 大人虎變。未占有孚。
Nine in the fifth place means: The great man changes like a tiger. Even before he questions the oracle He is believed.
Line 6
上六 君子豹變。小人革面。征凶。居貞吉。
Six at the top means: The superior man changes like a panther. The inferior man molts in the face. Starting brings misfortune. To remain persevering brings good fortune.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
久陰霖雨，泥塗行潦。商人休止，市空无寶。
Long yin-rains fall without ceasing; mud and mire flood the roads. The merchants halt their business; the market stands empty, devoid of treasure.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Fire within the lake transforms into fire above the lake — Opposition, where two forces see each other but cannot unite. Long rains and overcast skies turn roads to mud and standing water. Merchants cease their business; the market stands empty, devoid of goods. Revolution has torn apart the old commercial order, and Opposition ensures that nothing reconnects. Fire and water gaze at each other across the lake but move in opposite directions. The rain that should nourish instead drowns commerce. From Revolution to Opposition, the transformation captures a stalled economy after upheaval: producers and consumers can see each other but cannot meet, separated by impassable mud.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store