Hexagram 20 觀 changing to hexagram 28 大過
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 4, 6.
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 28 大過, line 1
藉用白茅，无咎。
The first line, divided, shows one placing mats of the white mâo grass under things set on the ground. There will be no error.
Hexagram 28 大過, line 5
枯楊生華，老婦得其士夫，无咎无譽。
The fifth line, undivided, shows a decayed willow producing flowers, or an old wife in possession of her young husband. There will be occasion neither for blame nor for praise.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 20 觀 — judgment
盥而不薦，有孚顒若。
Kwân shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;—with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).
Hexagram 28 大過 — judgment
棟橈，利有攸往，亨。
Tâ Kwo suggests to us a beam that is weak. There will be advantage in moving (under its conditions) in any direction whatever; there will be success.
The changing lines of hexagram 20
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 窺觀，利女貞。 | The second line, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous if it were (merely) the firm correctness of a female. |
| 3 | 觀我生，進退。 | The third line, divided, shows one looking at (the course of) his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly). |
| 4 | 觀國之光，利用賓于王。 | The fourth line, divided, shows one contemplating the glory of the kingdom. It will be advantageous for him, being such as he is, (to seek) to be a guest of the king. |
| 6 | 觀其生，君子无咎。 | The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into 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.