Hexagram 41 損 changing to hexagram 48 井
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 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 48 井, line 2
井谷射鮒,瓮敝漏。
The second line, undivided, shows a well from which by a hole the water escapes and flows away to the shrimps (and such small creatures among the grass), or one the water of which leaks away from a broken basket.
Hexagram 48 井, line 4
井甃,无咎。
The fourth line, divided, shows a well, the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 41 損 — judgment
有孚,元吉。无咎,可貞,利有攸往。曷之用?二簋可用享。
In (what is denoted by) Sun, if there be sincerity (in him who employs it), there will be great good fortune:—freedom from error; firmness and correctness that can be maintained; and advantage in every movement that shall be made. In what shall this (sincerity in the exercise of Sun) be employed? (Even) in sacrifice two baskets of grain, (though there be nothing else), may be presented.
Hexagram 48 井 — judgment
改邑不改井,无喪无得,往來井井。汔至亦未繘井。羸其瓶,凶。
(Looking at) Zing, (we think of) how (the site of) a town may be changed, while (the fashion of) its wells undergoes no change. (The water of a well) never disappears and never receives (any great) increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit. If (the drawing) have nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water, the bucket is broken, this is evil.
The changing lines of hexagram 41
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 祀事遄往,无咎,酌損之。 | The first line, undivided, shows its subject suspending his own affairs, and hurrying away (to help the subject of the fourth line). He will commit no error, but let him consider how far he should contribute of what is his (for the other). |
| 3 | 三人行,則損一人;一人行,則得其友。 | The third line, divided, shows how of three men walking together, the number is diminished by one; and how one, walking, finds his friend. |
| 5 | 或益之,十朋之龜弗克違,元吉。 | The fifth line, divided, shows parties adding to (the stores of) its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells, and accepting no refusal. There will be great good fortune. |
| 6 | 弗損益之,无咎,貞吉,利有攸往,得臣无家。 | The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject giving increase to others without taking from himself. There will be no error. With firm correctness there will be good fortune. There will be advantage in every movement that shall be made. He will find ministers more than can be counted by their clans. |
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.