Hexagram 19 臨 changing to hexagram 62 小過
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 4.
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 62 小過, line 5
密雲不雨，自我西郊，公弋取彼在穴。
The fifth line, divided, (suggests the idea) of dense clouds, but no rain, coming from our borders in the west. It also (shows) the prince shooting his arrow, and taking the bird in a cave.
Hexagram 62 小過, line 6
弗遇過之，飛鳥離之，凶，是謂災眚。
The sixth line, divided, shows its subject not meeting (the exigency of his situation), and exceeding (his proper course). (It suggests the idea of) a bird flying far aloft. There will be evil. The case is what is called one of calamity and selfproduced injury.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 19 臨 — judgment
元亨。利貞。至于八月有凶。
Lin (indicates that under the conditions supposed in it) there will be great progress and success, while it will be advantageous to be firmly correct. In the eighth month there will be evil.
Hexagram 62 小過 — judgment
亨。利貞。可小事，不可大事。飛鳥遺之音，不宜上宜下，大吉。
Hsiâo Kwo indicates that (in the circumstances which it implies) there will be progress and attainment. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. (What the name denotes) may be done in small affairs, but not in great affairs. (It is like) the notes that come down from a bird on the wing;—to descend is better than to ascend. There will (in this way) be great good fortune.
The changing lines of hexagram 19
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 咸臨，貞吉。 | The first line, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the second line). Through his firm correctness there will be good fortune. |
| 2 | 咸臨，吉无不利。 | The second line, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the first line). There will be good fortune; (advancing) will be in every way advantageous. |
| 3 | 甘臨，无攸利。既憂之，无咎。 | The third line, divided, shows one well pleased (indeed) to advance, (but whose action) will be in no way advantageous. If he become anxious about it (however), there will be no error. |
| 4 | 至臨，无咎。 | The fourth line, divided, shows one advancing in the highest mode. There will be no error. |
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.