兌 → 蹇
Hexagram 58: The Joyous Lake → Hexagram 39: Obstruction
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4).
Line 1
初九 和兌吉。
Nine at the beginning means: Contented joyousness. Good fortune.
Line 2
九二 孚兌吉。悔亡。
Nine in the second place means: Sincere joyousness. Good fortune. Remorse disappears.
Line 3
六三 來兌凶。
Six in the third place means: Coming joyousness. Misfortune.
Line 4
九四 商兌未寧。介疾有喜。
Nine in the fourth place means: Joyousness that is weighed is not at peace. After ridding himself of mistakes a man has joy.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
心願所喜，乃今逢時。得我利福，不離兵革。
The heart's desire brings joy; now at last the time is met. I gain my profit and blessing, yet cannot leave weapons and war.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Paired lakes meet water upon the mountain — Obstruction, where the path forward is blocked. The heart's desire finally meets its moment; fortune and blessings are obtained, yet one cannot leave behind weapons and war. Joy arrives but carries an armed escort. From The Joyous to Obstruction, the verse captures the paradox of blessings received under duress: what one desired most comes true, but the cost is perpetual vigilance. Water above the mountain cannot flow downward naturally; it pools and freezes. The sage turns inward to cultivate virtue when the way forward is blocked. Here, fortune is real but never free from the shadow of conflict.
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