King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 32 恒 changing to hexagram 8 比

héng
→
bǐ

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 4, 5.

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 8 比, line 1

有孚,比之,无咎。有孚盈缶,終來有它,吉。

The first line, divided, shows its subject seeking by his sincerity to win the attachment of his object. There will be no error. Let (the breast) be full of sincerity as an earthenware vessel is of its contents, and it will in the end bring other advantages.

Hexagram 8 比, line 6

比之无首,凶。

In the topmost line, divided, we see one seeking union and attachment without having taken the first step (to such an end). There will be evil.

The two hexagrams

Hexagram 32 恒 — judgment

恆:亨,无咎。利貞,利有攸往。

Hăng indicates successful progress and no error (in what it denotes). But the advantage will come from being firm and correct; and movement in any direction whatever will be advantageous.

Hexagram 8 比 — judgment

吉。原筮元永貞,无咎。不寧方來,後夫凶。

Pî indicates that (under the conditions which it supposes) there is good fortune. But let (the principal party intended in it) re-examine himself, (as if) by divination, whether his virtue be great, unintermitting, and firm. If it be so, there will be no error. Those who have not rest will then come to him; and with those who are (too) late in coming it will be ill.

The changing lines of hexagram 32

LineChineseLegge
2悔亡。The second line, undivided, shows all occasion for repentance disappearing.
3不恆其德,或承之羞,貞吝。The third line, undivided, shows one who does not continuously maintain his virtue. There are those who will impute this to him as a disgrace. However firm he may be, there will be ground for regret.
4田无禽。The fourth line, undivided, shows a field where there is no game.
5恆其德,貞,婦人吉,夫子凶。The fifth line, divided, shows its subject continuously maintaining the virtue indicated by it. In a wife this will be fortunate; in a husband, evil.

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.