漸 → 臨
Hexagram 53: Development → Hexagram 19: Approach
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 5 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 6).
Line 1
初六 鴻漸于干。小子厲有言。無咎。
Six at the beginning means: The wild goose gradually draws near the shore. The young son is in danger. There is talk. No blame.
Line 2
六二 鴻漸于磐。飲食衎衎。吉。
Six in the second place means: The wild goose gradually draws near the cliff. Eating and drinking in peace and concord. Good fortune.
Line 3
九三 鴻漸于陸。夫征不復。婦孕不育。凶。利禦寇。
Nine in the third place means: The wild goose gradually draws near the plateau. The man goes forth and does not return. The woman carries a child but does not bring it forth. Misfortune. It furthers one to fight off robbers.
Line 5
九五 鴻漸于陵。婦三歲不孕。終莫之勝。吉。
Nine in the fifth place means: The wild goose gradually draws near the summit. For three years the woman has no child. In the end nothing can hinder her. Good fortune.
Line 6
上九 鴻漸于陸。其羽可用為儀。吉。
Nine at the top means: The wild goose gradually draws near the clouds heights. Its feathers can be used for the sacred dance. Good fortune.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
禹作神鼎，伯益衘指。斧斤既折，撞立獨倚。賣萬不售，枯槁為禍。
Yu cast the sacred tripod; Bo Yi bit his finger in effort. Axe and hatchet already broken, the standing pillar leans alone. Offered for ten thousand, none will buy; withered and wasted, it becomes a curse.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind over mountain descends to earth over lake: gradual development meets the sovereign approach. Yu the Great cast the sacred tripods, and Bo Yi bit his fingers in anguish. Axes and adzes are broken; the pillar stands alone, leaning without support. One offers goods at ten thousand but finds no buyer; withered and desiccated, disaster follows. According to tradition, Yu designated Bo Yi as his successor, but Yu's son Qi seized the throne instead, founding hereditary rule. Bo Yi's anguish embodies thwarted succession: the careful preparations crumble, tools fail, and the market will not receive what is offered. From Development to Approach, the gradual cultivator discovers that approaching power demands more than merit; the pillar left standing alone cannot hold the roof.
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