King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 17 隨 changing to hexagram 31 咸

suí
→
xián

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 3.

What to read

Two changing lines: read both line texts of the original hexagram; the upper one is the main one. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)

Hexagram 17 隨, line 3

係丈夫,失小子。隨,有求得利,居貞。

The third line, divided, shows us one who cleaves to the man of age and experience, and lets go the little boy. Such following will get what it seeks; but it will be advantageous to adhere to what is firm and correct.

Hexagram 17 隨, line 1

官有渝,貞吉。出門交有功。

The first line, undivided, shows us one changing the object of his pursuit; but if he be firm and correct, there will he good fortune. Going beyond (his own) gate to find associates, he will achieve merit.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 17 隨 — judgment

元亨。利貞。无咎。

Sui indicates that (under its conditions) there will be great progress and success. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. There will (then) be no error.

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 17

LineChineseLegge
1官有渝,貞吉。出門交有功。The first line, undivided, shows us one changing the object of his pursuit; but if he be firm and correct, there will he good fortune. Going beyond (his own) gate to find associates, he will achieve merit.
3係丈夫,失小子。隨,有求得利,居貞。The third line, divided, shows us one who cleaves to the man of age and experience, and lets go the little boy. Such following will get what it seeks; but it will be advantageous to adhere to what is firm and correct.

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.