King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 18 蠱 changing to hexagram 12 否

gǔ
→
fǒu

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 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 12 否, line 1

拔茅茹以其彙,貞吉。亨。

The first line, divided, suggests the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks with whose roots it is connected. With firm correctness (on the part of its subject), there will be good fortune and progress.

Hexagram 12 否, line 6

傾否,先否後喜。

The sixth line, undivided, shows the overthrow (and removal of) the condition of distress and obstruction. Before this there was that condition. Hereafter there will be joy.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 18 蠱 — judgment

元亨。利涉大川。先甲三日,後甲三日。

Kû indicates great progress and success (to him who deals properly with the condition represented by it). There will be advantage in (efforts like that of) crossing the great stream. (He should weigh well, however, the events of) three days before the turning point, and those (to be done) three days after it.

Hexagram 12 否 — judgment

否之匪人,不利君子貞,大往小來。

In Phî there is the want of good understanding between the (different classes of) men, and its indication is unfavourable to the firm and correct course of the superior man. We see in it the great gone and the little come.

The changing lines of hexagram 18

LineChineseLegge
2幹母之蠱,不可貞。The second line, undivided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his mother. He should not (carry) his firm correctness (to the utmost).
3幹父之蠱,小有悔,无大咎。The third line, undivided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. There may be some small occasion for repentance, but there will not be any great error.
4裕父之蠱,往見吝。The fourth line, divided, shows (a son) viewing indulgently the troubles caused by his father. If he go forward, he will find cause to regret it.
5幹父之蠱,用譽。The fifth line, divided, shows (a son) dealing with the troubles caused by his father. He obtains the praise of using (the fit instrument for his work).

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.