革 → 困
Hexagram 49: Revolution → Hexagram 47: Oppression
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3).
Line 1
初九 鞏用黃牛之革。
Nine at the beginning means: Wrapped in the hide of a yellow cow.
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.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
登崑崙，入天門，過糟丘，宿玉泉，同惠歡，見欣君。
Climbing Kunlun, entering the heavenly gate; passing the mound of grain, lodging at the Jade Spring. Sharing in gracious joy, beholding the lord of delight.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Fire within the lake yields to the lake drained of water — Oppression, where resources are exhausted and one must rely on inner conviction. Yet this verse is unexpectedly joyful: one ascends Kunlun, enters the gate of heaven, passes the Hills of Grain, lodges at the Jade Spring, shares delight with a companion, and meets a gracious lord. This is the mythological journey to the Queen Mother of the West's paradise — Kunlun Mountain, where immortals dwell above the Weak Water. From Revolution to Oppression, the paradoxical resonance emerges: when the lake runs dry and worldly resources fail, the spirit ascends to celestial realms. Oppression of the body frees the soul to travel where flesh cannot follow.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store