革 → 訟
Hexagram 49: Revolution → Hexagram 6: Conflict
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 6).
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.
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
臨河求鯉，燕婉失餌。屏氣攝息，不得鯉子。
Approaching the river to seek carp; poised and graceful, yet losing the bait. Holding breath, suppressing every stir; still no carp is caught.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Fire within the lake meets heaven moving against water — conflict inherent in the approach. One goes to the river seeking carp, poised and gentle with the bait, holding breath and stilling motion. Yet the carp refuses to come. Revolution demands decisive action, but Conflict arises when desire and method work at cross-purposes. The fisherman's excessive caution — suppressing breath, freezing in place — defeats the very suppleness that fishing requires. From Revolution to Conflict, the transformation illuminates how overthinking undermines execution: wanting change so badly that one paralyzes the process, grasping at the prize while the prize slips away.
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