Hexagram 34 大壯 changing to hexagram 25 无妄
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 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 25 无妄, line 1
无妄,往吉。
The first line, undivided, shows its subject free from all insincerity. His advance will be accompanied with good fortune.
Hexagram 25 无妄, line 4
可貞,无咎。
The fourth line, undivided, shows (a case) in which, if its subject can remain firm and correct, there will be no error.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 34 大壯 — judgment
利貞。
Ta Kwang indicates that (under the conditions which it symbolises) it will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
Hexagram 25 无妄 — judgment
元亨。利貞。其匪正有眚,不利有攸往。
Wû Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.
The changing lines of hexagram 34
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 貞吉。 | The second line, undivided, shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune. |
| 3 | 小人用壯,君子用罔,貞厲。羝羊觸藩,羸其角。 | The third line, undivided, shows, in the case of a small man, one using all his strength; and in the case of a superior man, one whose rule is not to do so. Even with firm correctness the position would be perilous. (The exercise of strength in it might be compared to the case of) a ram butting against a fence, and getting his horns entangled. |
| 5 | 喪羊于易,无悔。 | The fifth line, divided, shows one who loses his ram(-like strength) in the ease of his position. (But) there will be no occasion for repentance. |
| 6 | 羝羊觸藩,不能退,不能遂,无攸利,艱則吉。 | The sixth line, divided, shows (one who may be compared to) the ram butting against the fence, and unable either to retreat, or to advance as he would fain do. There will not be advantage in any respect; but if he realise the difficulty (of his position), there will be good fortune. |
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.