中孚

Hexagram 61: Inner Truth → Hexagram 31: Influence

中孚
Inner Truth
Wind / Lake
Influence
Lake / Mountain
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 5 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 6).

Line 1

初九 虞吉。有他不燕。

readiness
promising
yǒuto be
more than this
no
yàncomfort

Nine at the beginning means: Being prepared brings good fortune. If there are secret designs, it is disquieting.

Line 2

九二 鳴鶴在陰。其子和之。我有好爵。吾與爾靡之。

míngcall
crane
zàiremaining in
yīnshadows
her
young ones
respond
zhīher
I
yǒuhave
hǎofine
juédecanter
I
along with
ěryour
will drain
zhīit

Nine in the second place means: A crane calling in the shade. Its young answers it. I have a good goblet. I will share it with you.

Line 3

六三 得敵。或鼓或罷。或泣或歌。

finding
counterpart
huòmaybe
to beat
huòor maybe
to quit
huòmaybe
to weep
huòor maybe
to sing

Six in the third place means: He finds a comrade. Now he beats the drum, now he stops. Now he sobs, now he sings.

Line 4

六四 月幾望。馬匹亡。无咎。

yuèmoon
almost
wàngfull
horse
of a pair
wángruns away
no
jiùblame

Six in the fourth place means: The moon nearly at the full. The team horse goes astray. No blame.

Line 6

上九 翰音登于天。貞凶。

hànrooster's
yīncrowing
dēngascend
up to
tiānheaven
zhēnpersistence
xiōngunfortunate

Nine at the top means: Cockcrow penetrating to heaven. Perseverance brings misfortune.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramWind LakeThe Gentle → The Joyous
Lower TrigramLake MountainThe Joyous → Keeping Still

Yilin Verse

低頭竊視,有所遇避。行作不利,酒酸魚餒,眾莫貪嗜。

Head bowed, stealing glances; something to meet and avoid. Actions bring no profit; wine sours and fish spoils. None desire to taste them.

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

Commentary

Wind stirs above the lake, but eyes are lowered in furtive glances. One peers from beneath, avoiding and evading. Actions bring no profit; the wine has turned sour and the fish is rancid — no one desires them. The verse paints a scene of failed commerce or hospitality: the host skulks, the goods are spoiled, the guests recoil. From Inner Truth to Influence, sincerity should meet the lake resting upon the mountain — the image of receptive openness that moves the heart. Yet the verse inverts every element: instead of open receptivity, there is concealment; instead of attraction, repulsion. Influence requires vulnerability, but when what one offers is corrupt and one's posture is evasive, no genuine connection can form.

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