King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 25 无妄 changing to hexagram 29 坎

wú wàng
→
kǎn

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 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 29 坎, line 3

來之坎坎,險且枕,入于坎窞,勿用。

The third line, divided, shows its subject, whether he comes or goes (=descends or ascends), confronted by a defile. All is peril to him and unrest. (His endeavours) will lead him into the cavern of the pit. There should be no action (in such a case).

Hexagram 29 坎, line 5

坎不盈,禔既平,无咎。

The fifth line, undivided, shows the water of the defile not yet full, (so that it might flow away); but order will (soon) be brought about. There will be no error.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 25 无妄 — judgment

元亨。利貞。其匪正有眚,不利有攸往。

Wû Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.

Hexagram 29 坎 — judgment

習坎:有孚,維心亨。行有尚。

Khan, here repeated, shows the possession of sincerity, through which the mind is. penetrating. Action (in accordance with this) will be of high value.

The changing lines of hexagram 25

LineChineseLegge
1无妄,往吉。The first line, undivided, shows its subject free from all insincerity. His advance will be accompanied with good fortune.
2不耕穫,不菑畬,則利有攸往。The second line, divided, shows one who reaps without having ploughed (that he might reap), and gathers the produce of his third year's fields without having cultivated them the first year for that end. To such a one there will be advantage in whatever direction he may move.
4可貞,无咎。The fourth line, undivided, shows (a case) in which, if its subject can remain firm and correct, there will be no error.
6无妄,行有眚,无攸利。The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject free from insincerity, yet sure to fall into error, if he take action. (His action) will not be advantageous in any way.

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.