Hexagram 1 乾 changing to hexagram 15 謙
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.
What to read
Five changing lines: read the one unchanged line of the resulting hexagram. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)
Hexagram 15 謙, line 3
勞謙君子,有終吉。
The third line, undivided, shows the superior man of (acknowledged) merit. He will maintain his success to the end, and have good fortune.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 1 乾 — judgment
元亨。利貞。
Khien (represents) what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and firm.
Hexagram 15 謙 — judgment
亨,君子有終。
Khien indicates progress and success. The superior man, (being humble as it implies), will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings).
The changing lines of hexagram 1
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 潛龍勿用。 | In the first (or lowest) line, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon lying hid (in the deep). It is not the time for active doing. |
| 2 | 見龍在田,利見大人。 | In the second line, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon appearing in the field. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man. |
| 4 | 或躍在淵,无咎。 | In the fourth line, undivided, (we see its subject as the dragon looking) as if he were leaping up, but still in the deep. There will be no mistake. |
| 5 | 飛龍在天,利見大人。 | In the fifth line, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon on the wing in the sky. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man. |
| 6 | 亢龍,有悔。 | In the sixth (or topmost) line, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon exceeding the proper limits. There will be occasion for repentance. |
English: James Legge (1882), public domain. Chinese: Zhou Yi.
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.