師 → 夬
Hexagram 7: The Army → Hexagram 43: Breakthrough
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 3, 4, 5).
Line 1
初六 師出以律。否臧凶。
Six at the beginning means: An army must set forth in proper order. If the order is not good, misfortune threatens.
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
文山紫芝，雍梁朱草。生長和氣，福祿來處。
On Mount Wen, purple lingzhi; in Yong and Liang, vermillion herbs. Growing in harmonious qi; fortune and blessings come to dwell.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Water hidden within the earth yields treasures to those who seek them rightly. Patterned mountains bear purple lingzhi mushrooms; the hills of Yong and Liang grow vermilion grasses — both auspicious plants heralding sage governance. They flourish in harmonious energy, and blessings and fortune arrive naturally. Purple lingzhi and vermilion grass were classic Han-dynasty portents of heaven's approval, reported to the throne as proof of virtuous rule. From The Army to Breakthrough, the lake ascends to heaven in decisive action. The army's patient cultivation produces unmistakable signs of merit: auspicious omens break through like water cresting the sky, and accumulated virtue becomes publicly visible.
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