Hexagram 47 困 changing to hexagram 32 恒
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 3, 5.
What to read
Two changing lines: read both line texts of the original hexagram; the upper one is the main one. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)
Hexagram 47 困, line 5
劓刖,困于赤紱,乃徐有說,利用祭祀。
The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject with his nose and feet cut off. He is straitened by (his ministers in their) scarlet aprons. He is leisurely in his movements, however, and is satisfied. It will be well for him to be (as sincere) as in sacrificing (to spiritual beings).
Hexagram 47 困, line 3
困于石,據于蒺蔾,入于其宮,不見其妻,凶。
The third line, divided, shows its subject straitened before a (frowning) rock. He lays hold of thorns. He enters his palace, and does not see his wife. There will be evil.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 47 困 — judgment
亨,貞大人吉,无咎,有言不信。
In (the condition denoted by) Khwăn there may (yet be) progress and success. For the firm and correct, the (really) great man, there will be good fortune. He will fall into no error. If he make speeches, his words cannot be made good.
Hexagram 32 恒 — judgment
恆:亨,无咎。利貞,利有攸往。
Hăng indicates successful progress and no error (in what it denotes). But the advantage will come from being firm and correct; and movement in any direction whatever will be advantageous.
The changing lines of hexagram 47
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 困于石,據于蒺蔾,入于其宮,不見其妻,凶。 | The third line, divided, shows its subject straitened before a (frowning) rock. He lays hold of thorns. He enters his palace, and does not see his wife. There will be evil. |
| 5 | 劓刖,困于赤紱,乃徐有說,利用祭祀。 | The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject with his nose and feet cut off. He is straitened by (his ministers in their) scarlet aprons. He is leisurely in his movements, however, and is satisfied. It will be well for him to be (as sincere) as in sacrificing (to spiritual beings). |
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.