Hexagram 7: The Army → Hexagram 20: Contemplation

The Army
Earth / Water
Contemplation
Wind / Earth
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

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

Line 2

九二 在師中吉。无咎。王三錫命。

zàiat
shīthe militia
zhōngthe center
promising
nothing
jiùblame
wángthe sovereign
sānthree times
grants
mìngdecrees

Nine in the second place means: In the midst of the army. Good fortune. No blame. The king bestows a triple decoration.

Line 5

六五 田有禽。利執言。无咎。長子帥師。弟子輿尸。貞凶。

tiánthe fields
yǒuholds
qíngame
worthwhile
zhíto control
yánthe talking
no
jiùblame
zhǎngthe elder
son
shuàicaptains
shīthe militia
the younger
son
輿would only transport
shīthe corpses
zhēnpersistence
xiōngunfortunate

Six in the fifth place means: There is game in the field. It furthers one to catch it. Without blame. Let the eldest lead the army. The younger transports corpses; Then perseverance brings misfortune.

Line 6

上六 大君有命。開國承家。小人勿用。

the great
jūnnoble
yǒuassumes
mìngfull command
kāiestablish
guóthe domains
chéngand recognizes
jiāthe clans
xiǎothe lesser
rénpeople
are not at all
yònguseful

Six at the top means: The great prince issues commands, Founds states, vests families with fiefs. Inferior people should not be employed.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramEarth WindThe Receptive → The Gentle
Lower TrigramWater EarthThe Deep → The Receptive

Yilin Verse

膚敏之德,發憤忘食。虜豹禽說,以成主德。

Keen and diligent in virtue; so devoted he forgets to eat. Capturing leopard and beast Shuo; to perfect the lord's virtue.

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

Commentary

Water hidden within the earth cultivates capable ministers, and here swift sensitivity of mind drives tireless effort. The phrase 'fu-min' suggests one whose perception is keen as skin sensing a touch — such a person forgets to eat in their passionate dedication. Capturing leopards and taming wild beasts, this minister's achievements complete the sovereign's virtue. The verse celebrates the diligent official whose personal intensity serves the state's higher purpose. From The Army to Contemplation, wind moves across the earth as the ancient kings surveyed their domains. The minister's ferocious competence becomes the ruler's capacity to observe and educate — individual vigor refined into institutional wisdom.

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