Hexagram 31 咸 changing to hexagram 52 艮

xián

→

gěn

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 4, 5, 6.

What to read

Three changing lines: read the judgments of the original and the resulting hexagram; the original is the main one. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)

Judgment of hexagram 31 咸

亨。利貞。取女吉。

Hsien indicates that, (on the fulfilment of the conditions implied in it), there will be free course and success. Its advantageousness will depend on the being firm and correct, (as) in marrying a young lady. There will be good fortune.

Judgment of hexagram 52 艮

艮其背，不獲其身，行其庭，不見其人，无咎。

When one's resting is like that of the back, Kăn he loses all consciousness of self; when he walks in his courtyard, and does not see any (of the persons) in it,—there will be no error.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 31 咸 — judgment

亨。利貞。取女吉。

Hexagram 52 艮 — judgment

艮其背，不獲其身，行其庭，不見其人，无咎。

When one's resting is like that of the back, Kăn he loses all consciousness of self; when he walks in his courtyard, and does not see any (of the persons) in it,—there will be no error.

The changing lines of hexagram 31

Line	Chinese	Legge
4	貞吉悔亡，憧憧往來，朋從爾思。	The fourth line, undivided, shows that firm correctness which will lead to good fortune, and prevent all occasion for repentance. If its subject be unsettled in his movements, (only) his friends will follow his purpose.
5	咸其脢，无悔。	The fifth line, undivided, shows one moving the flesh along the spine above the heart. There will be no occasion for repentance.
6	咸其輔，頰，舌。	The sixth line, divided, shows one moving his jaws and tongue.

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.