師 → 大過
Hexagram 7: The Army → Hexagram 28: Great Exceeding
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 3 changing lines (lines 3, 4, 5).
Line 3
六三 師或輿尸。凶。
Six in the third place means: Perchance the army carries corpses in the wagon. Misfortune.
Line 4
六四 師左次。无咎。
Six in the fourth place means: The army retreats. No blame.
Line 5
六五 田有禽。利執言。无咎。長子帥師。弟子輿尸。貞凶。
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.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
功成事就，拱手安居。立德有言，坐飾貢賦。
Deeds accomplished, affairs complete; resting with folded hands in peace. Establishing virtue with words; sitting and arranging tributes.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Water hidden within the earth achieves its mission, and the commander folds his hands in tranquil repose. Deeds accomplished and affairs concluded, virtue is established through words, and tribute and taxes are arranged while seated at ease. The verse celebrates the ideal aftermath of a successful campaign: no further action needed, the ruler governs by presence alone. From The Army to Great Exceeding, the lake submerges the trees in a moment of extraordinary weight. The very success described here pushes beyond normal limits — such ease and completeness carries the seed of excess. The wise commander recognizes that even peaceful repose, extended too long, becomes the ridgepole that sags.
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