Hexagram 30 離 changing to hexagram 39 蹇
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 4, 5, 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 39 蹇, line 2
王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故。
The second line, divided, shows the minister of the king struggling with difficulty on difficulty, and not with a view to his own advantage.
Hexagram 39 蹇, line 3
往蹇來反。
The third line, undivided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and returns (to his former associates).
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 30 離 — judgment
利貞。亨。畜牝牛，吉。
Lî indicates that, (in regard to what it denotes), it will be advantageous to be firm and correct, and that thus there will be free course and success. Let (its subject) also nourish (a docility like that of) the cow, and there will be good fortune.
Hexagram 39 蹇 — judgment
利西南，不利東北；利見大人，貞吉。
In (the state indicated Kien advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man. (In these circumstances), with firmness and correctness, there will be good fortune.
The changing lines of hexagram 30
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 履錯然，敬之无咎。 | The first line, undivided, shows one ready to move with confused steps. But he treads at the same time reverently, and there will be no mistake. |
| 4 | 突如其來如，焚如，死如，棄如。 | The fourth line, undivided, shows the manner of its subject's coming. How abrupt it is, as with fire, with death, to be rejected (by all)! |
| 5 | 出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。 | The fifth line, divided, shows its subject as one with tears flowing in torrents, and groaning in sorrow. There will be good fortune. |
| 6 | 王用出征，有嘉折首，獲匪其醜，无咎。 | The topmost line, undivided, shows the king employing its subject in his punitive expeditions. Achieving admirable (merit), he breaks (only) the chiefs (of the rebels). Where his prisoners were not their associates, he does not punish. 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.