Hexagram 2 坤 changing to hexagram 9 小畜
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 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 9 小畜, line 4
有孚，血去惕出，无咎。
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity. The danger of bloodshed is thereby averted, and his (ground for) apprehension dismissed. There will be no mistake.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 2 坤 — judgment
元亨。利牝馬之貞。
Khwăn (represents) what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and having the firmness of a mare. When the superior man (here intended) has to make any movement, if he take the initiative, he will go astray; if he follow, he will find his (proper) lord. The advantageousness will be seen in his getting friends in the south-west, and losing friends in the north-east. If he rest in correctness and firmness, there will be good fortune.
Hexagram 9 小畜 — judgment
亨。密雲不雨，自我西郊。
Hsiâo Khû indicates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and success. (We see) dense clouds, but no rain coming from our borders in the west.
The changing lines of hexagram 2
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 履霜，堅冰至。 | In the first line, divided, (we see its subject) treading on hoarfrost. The strong ice will come (by and by). |
| 2 | 直方大，不習无不利。 | The second line, divided, (shows the attribute of) being straight, square, and great. (Its operation), without repeated efforts, will be in every respect advantageous. |
| 3 | 含章，可貞。或從王事，无成有終。 | The third line, divided, (shows its subject) keeping his excellence under restraint, but firmly maintaining it. If he should have occasion to engage in the king's service, though he will not claim the success (for himself), he will bring affairs to a good issue. |
| 5 | 黃裳，元吉。 | The fifth line, divided, (shows) the yellow lower garment. There will be great good fortune. |
| 6 | 龍戰于野，其血玄黃。 | The sixth line, divided, (shows) dragons fighting in the wild. Their blood is purple and yellow. |
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.