震 → 既濟
Hexagram 51: The Arousing Thunder → Hexagram 63: After Completion
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 3, 4, 5).
Line 3
六三 震蘇蘇。震行无眚。
Six in the third place means: Shock comes and makes one distraught. If shock spurs to action One remains free of misfortune.
Line 4
九四 震遂泥。
Nine in the fourth place means: Shock is mired.
Line 5
六五 震往來厲。意无喪有事。
Six in the fifth place means: Shock goes hither and thither. Danger. However, nothing at all is lost. Yet there are things to be done.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
𪙨𪙨齧齧，貧鬼相責。无有懽怡，一日九結。
Gnawing, gnashing, biting, grinding; the ghosts of poverty accuse each other. No joy or gladness to be found; nine knots tied in a single day.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Thunder doubled meets water over fire: shock resolved into the precarious completion of After Completion. Bickering and gnawing, the ghosts of poverty accuse each other. There is no joy or delight; in a single day, nine knots of resentment form. The 'ghosts of poverty' (貧鬼) are folk demons that embody destitution — where they settle, quarreling follows. The verse describes a household where material deprivation has corroded all affection, producing only mutual blame. Nine knots in a single day: resentment multiplies faster than it can be untangled. From The Arousing to After Completion, water sits atop fire in momentary balance — but the balance is fragile and already declining. The verse captures completion's bitter aftertaste: everything is technically in order, yet the reality is relentless friction. The gentleman thinks of disaster and prepares, but here preparation has already failed.
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