King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 36 明夷 changing to hexagram 6 訟

míng yí
→
sòng

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

What to read

All six lines change: read the judgment of the resulting hexagram. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)

Judgment of hexagram 6 訟

有孚,窒,惕,中吉,終凶。利見大人,不利涉大川。

Sung intimates how, though there is sincerity in one's contention, he will yet meet with opposition and obstruction; but if he cherish an apprehensive caution, there will be good fortune, while, if he must prosecute the contention to the (bitter) end, there will be evil. It will be advantageous to see the great man; it will not be advantageous to cross the great stream.

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 6 訟 — judgment

有孚,窒,惕,中吉,終凶。利見大人,不利涉大川。

Sung intimates how, though there is sincerity in one's contention, he will yet meet with opposition and obstruction; but if he cherish an apprehensive caution, there will be good fortune, while, if he must prosecute the contention to the (bitter) end, there will be evil. It will be advantageous to see the great man; it will not be advantageous to cross the great stream.

The changing lines of hexagram 36

LineChineseLegge
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).
4入于左腹,獲明夷之心,于出門庭。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject (just) entered into the left side of the belly (of the dark land). (But) he is able to carry out the mind appropriate (in the condition indicated by) Ming I, quitting the gate and courtyard (of the lord of darkness).
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.
6不明晦,初登于天,後入于地。The sixth line, divided, shows the case where there is no light, but (only) obscurity. (Its subject) had at first ascended to (the top of) the sky; his future shall be to go into the earth.

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.