Hexagram 36 明夷 changing to hexagram 29 坎
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 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 29 坎, line 4
尊酒簋，貳用缶。内約自牖，終无咎。
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject (at a feast), with (simply) a bottle of spirits, and a subsidiary basket of rice, while (the cups and bowls) are (only) of earthenware. He introduces his important lessons (as his ruler's) intelligence admits. There will in the end be no error.
Hexagram 29 坎, line 6
係用徽纆，寘于叢棘，三歲不得，凶。
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject bound with cords of three strands or two strands, and placed in the thicket of thorns. But in three years he does not learn the course for him to pursue. There will be evil.
The two hexagrams
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.
Hexagram 29 坎 — judgment
習坎：有孚，維心亨。行有尚。
Khan, here repeated, shows the possession of sincerity, through which the mind is. penetrating. Action (in accordance with this) will be of high value.
The changing lines of hexagram 36
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食，有攸往，主人有言。 | The first line, undivided, shows its subject, (in the condition indicated by) Ming I, flying, but with drooping wings. When the superior man (is revolving) his going away, he may be for three days without eating. Wherever he goes, the people there may speak (derisively of him). |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| 5 | 箕子之明夷，利貞。 | The fifth line, divided, shows how the count of Ki fulfilled the condition indicated by Ming t. It will be advantageous to be firm and correct. |
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.