歸妹 → 益
Hexagram 54: The Marrying Maiden → Hexagram 42: Increase
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 2, 4, 5, 6).
Line 2
九二 眇能視。利幽人之貞。
Nine in the second place means: A one-eyed man who is able to see. The perseverance of a solitary man furthers.
Line 4
九四 歸妹愆期。遲歸有時。
Nine in the fourth place means: The marrying maiden draws out the allotted time. A late marriage comes in due course.
Line 5
六五 帝乙歸妹。其君之袂。不如其娣之袂良。月幾望吉。
Six in the fifth place means: The sovereign I gave his daughter in marriage. The embroidered garments of the princess Were not as gorgeous As those of the serving maid. The moon that is nearly full Brings good fortune.
Line 6
上六 女承筐无實。士刲羊无血。无攸利。
Six at the top means: The woman holds the basket, but there are no fruits in it. The man stabs the sheep, but no blood flows. Nothing that acts to further.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
三驪負衡，南芷取香。秋蘭芬馥，盈滿神匱。利我仲季。
Three black steeds bear the crossbar, heading south to gather fragrance. Autumn orchids, rich and sweet, fill the sacred storehouse to the brim. Blessings upon our younger brothers.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Thunder over lake rises into wind over thunder: the maiden's constrained role expands into Increase's generous augmentation. Three black horses bear a yoke together; from the south, fragrant angelica is gathered. Autumn orchids fill the air with their perfume, overflowing the spirit's treasury. Blessings extend to the younger brothers. The verse celebrates abundance arriving through coordinated effort and seasonal harvest, the fragrance of virtue accumulating until it spills over to benefit the entire family. From the Marrying Maiden to Increase, wind and thunder reinforce each other, the gentleman improving upon seeing good and correcting faults. The transformation converts the maiden's subordination into shared prosperity: what was confined now overflows generously.
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