Hexagram 33 遯 changing to hexagram 36 明夷
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 36 明夷, line 2
明夷，夷于左股，用拯馬壯，吉。
The second line, divided, shows its subject, (in the condition indicated by) Ming I, wounded in the left thigh. He saves himself by the strength of a (swift) horse; and is fortunate.
Hexagram 36 明夷, line 3
明夷于南狩，得其大首，不可疾貞。
The third line, undivided, shows its subject, (in the condition indicated by) Ming I, hunting in the south, and taking the great chief (of the darkness). He should not be eager to make (all) correct (at once).
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 33 遯 — judgment
亨。小利貞。
Thun indicates successful progress (in its circumstances). To a small extent it will (still) be advantageous to be firm and correct.
Hexagram 36 明夷 — judgment
利艱貞。
Ming Î indicates that (in the circumstances which it denotes) it will be advantageous to realise the difficulty (of the position), and maintain firm correctness.
The changing lines of hexagram 33
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 遯尾，厲，勿用有攸往。 | The first line, divided, shows a retiring tail. The position is perilous. No movement in any direction should be made. |
| 4 | 好遯君子吉，小人否。 | The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject retiring notwithstanding his likings. In a superior man this will lead to good fortune; a small man cannot attain to this. |
| 5 | 嘉遯，貞吉。 | The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject retiring in an admirable way. With firm correctness there will be good fortune. |
| 6 | 肥遯，无不利。 | The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject retiring in a noble way. It will be advantageous in every respect. |
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.