未濟 → 損

Commentary

Fire above water, and the morning dew weighs down the traveler. Day and night the roads are drenched; heavy dew soaks jacket and trousers until walking becomes nearly impossible. The image echoes the Shijing's 'Zhan Lu' ode, where dew signifies the sovereign's gracious feast, but here the dew is oppressive rather than auspicious — moisture that should nourish instead burdens. From Before Completion to Decrease, fire-over-water transforms into a mountain rising above the lake, which shrinks below. Decrease counsels restraining anger and curbing desire — the discipline of doing less. The soaked garments are excess made physical: when even the dew becomes too much to bear, something must be shed. The traveler must lighten the load or stop moving entirely.