King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 11 泰 changing to hexagram 31 咸

tài
→
xián

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 4, 5.

What to read

Four changing lines: read the two unchanged lines of the resulting hexagram; the lower one is the main one. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)

Hexagram 31 咸, line 3

咸其股,執其隨,往吝。

The third line, undivided, shows one moving his thighs, and keeping close hold of those whom he follows. Going forward (in this way) will cause regret.

Hexagram 31 咸, line 6

咸其輔,頰,舌。

The sixth line, divided, shows one moving his jaws and tongue.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 11 泰 — judgment

小往大來,吉亨。

In Thâi (we see) the little gone and the great come. (It indicates that) there will be good fortune, with progress and success.

Hexagram 31 咸 — judgment

亨。利貞。取女吉。

Hsien indicates that, (on the fulfilment of the conditions implied in it), there will be free course and success. Its advantageousness will depend on the being firm and correct, (as) in marrying a young lady. There will be good fortune.

The changing lines of hexagram 11

LineChineseLegge
1拔茅茹以其彙,征吉。The first line, undivided, suggests the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks with whose roots it is connected. Advance (on the part of its subject) will be fortunate.
2包荒。用馮河,不遐遺;朋亡。得尚于中行。The second line, undivided, shows one who can bear with the uncultivated, will cross the Ho without a boat, does not forget the distant, and has no (selfish) friendships. Thus does he prove himself acting in accordance with the course of the due Mean.
4翩翩,不富以其鄰;不戒以孚。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject fluttering (down);—not relying on his own rich resources, but calling in his neighbours. (They all come) not as having received warning, but in the sincerity (of their hearts).
5帝乙歸妹,以祉,元吉。The fifth line, divided, reminds us of (king) Tî-yî's (rule about the) marriage of his younger sister. By such a course there is happiness and there will be great good fortune.

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.