Hexagram 60: Limitation → Hexagram 11: Peace

Limitation
Water / Lake
Peace
Earth / Heaven
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 3, 5).

Line 3

六三 不節若。則嗟若。无咎。

no
jiéboundary
ruòsuch
and consequently
jiēlament
ruòsuch
no
jiùblame

Six in the third place means: He who knows no limitation Will have cause to lament. No blame.

Line 5

九五 甘節吉。往有尚。

gānsweet
jiéboundary
promising
wǎngto go ahead
yǒuis
shàngworth

Nine in the fifth place means: Sweet limitation brings good fortune. Going brings esteem.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramWater EarthThe Deep → The Receptive
Lower TrigramLake HeavenThe Joyous → The Creative

Yilin Verse

騏驎綠耳,章明造父。伯夙成季,共成霸功,為晉元輔。

Qilin and Green Ear, famed steeds illustrating Zaofu's skill. Bo and Cheng of the Ji clan together achieved hegemony, becoming Jin's founding pillars.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Water over lake disciplines potential, and this verse celebrates that discipline bearing fruit through partnership. The fabled steeds Qilin and Lu'er, the renowned charioteer Zaofu — all legendary for their discipline and speed. Then the verse pivots to the Jin state: Bo Su and Cheng Ji, two of Duke Wen of Jin's loyal companions during his nineteen years of exile, who together forged the hegemony that made Jin the greatest power of the Spring and Autumn era. From Limitation to Peace, the transformation is illuminating: heaven and earth exchange freely, above descending and below rising. The measured restraint of exile — those years of wandering under strict self-discipline — culminated in the harmonious statecraft of a hegemon. Limitation refined into Peace.

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