漸 → 損
Hexagram 53: Development → Hexagram 41: Decrease
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 5).
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.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
年豐歲熟，政仁民樂，祿人獲福。
The year is abundant, the harvest ripe; governance is humane, the people rejoice. Those in service receive their blessing.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Wind over mountain descends to mountain over lake: gradual development embraces the wisdom of Decrease. The year is abundant, the harvest rich. Governance is benevolent, the people joyful; those who receive official salary obtain blessings. The verse paints an ideal of moderate prosperity: no excess, no deficiency, just a well-regulated sufficiency. From Development to Decrease, the mountain draws from the lake below, diminishing the lower to nourish the upper. Yet when this exchange is just, both thrive. The gentleman restrains anger and curtails desire. Gradual cultivation, when paired with voluntary reduction of excess, produces the conditions the verse celebrates: governance that does not overreach, harvests that are ample without being extravagant, and contentment that arises from enough rather than from more.
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