Hexagram 30 離 changing to hexagram 5 需
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 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 5 需, line 1
需于郊，利用恆，无咎。
The first line, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be well for him constantly to maintain (the purpose thus shown), in which case there will be no error.
Hexagram 5 需, line 3
需于泥，致寇至。
The third line, undivided, shows its subject in the mud (close by the stream). He thereby invites the approach of injury.
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 5 需 — judgment
有孚，光亨。貞吉，利涉大川。
Hsü intimates that, with the sincerity which is declared in it, there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
The changing lines of hexagram 30
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 黃離，元吉。 | The second line, divided, shows its subject in his place in yellow. There will be great good fortune. |
| 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.