歸妹 → 既濟
Hexagram 54: The Marrying Maiden → Hexagram 63: After Completion
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 2, 3, 4, 5).
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 3
六三 歸妹以須。反歸以娣。
Six in the third place means: The marrying maiden as a slave. She marries as a concubine.
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.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
陳辭達誠，使安不傾。增祿益壽，以成功名。
Presenting words to convey sincerity, he brings stability and prevents collapse. Rank is increased, longevity extended; thus merit and fame are achieved.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Thunder over lake settles into water over fire: the maiden's disordered union finds resolution in After Completion's perfect balance. Presenting words with sincerity reaches the heart of the matter, securing stability and preventing collapse. Salary increases and lifespan extends; achievement and fame are established. The verse celebrates the power of eloquent, genuine persuasion: the right words, spoken with integrity, stabilize a situation that was teetering. From the Marrying Maiden to After Completion, water sits above fire in perfect but precarious equilibrium. Every element is in its proper place, the ideal moment of fulfillment. The verse captures this moment: sincere counsel has been received, the crisis averted, and the reward of a well-ordered life secured. Yet After Completion always warns that perfection is the beginning of decline.
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