未濟 → 革
Hexagram 64: Before Completion → Hexagram 49: Revolution
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 5 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 6).
Line 1
初六 濡其尾。吝。
Six at the beginning means: He gets his tail in the water. Humiliating.
Line 2
九二 曳其輪。貞吉。
Nine in the second place means: He brakes his wheels. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 3
六三 未濟征凶。利涉大川。
Six in the third place means: Before completion, attack brings misfortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.
Line 5
六五 貞吉无悔。君子之光。有孚吉。
Six in the fifth place means: Perseverance brings good fortune. No remorse. The light of the superior man is true. Good fortune.
Line 6
上九 有孚于飲酒。无咎。濡其首。有孚失是。
Nine at the top means: There is drinking of wine In genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets his head, He loses it, in truth.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
圭璧琮璜，執禮見王。百里甯戚，應聘齊秦。
Jade tablet, jade ring, jade tube; bearing ritual gifts to see the king. Ning Qi of Baili; answered the summons to Qi and Qin.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Fire above water, and a worthy presents jade tablets before the king. Gui-discs, bi-jades, cong-tubes, and huang-pendants — the full set of ritual jades signifying legitimate authority. Baili Xi and Ning Qi answer the call, serving Qi and Qin. Both men rose from obscurity: Baili Xi was ransomed from slavery for five ram skins to become Qin's chief minister; Ning Qi sang while feeding cattle until Duke Huan of Qi recognized his talent. From Before Completion to Revolution, fire-over-water transforms into fire within the lake. Revolution is the hexagram of legitimate dynastic change — 'Tang and Wu made revolution in accord with Heaven.' The verse assembles the instruments and the agents of transformation: ritual legitimacy and hidden talent, both essential for a just revolution.
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