King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 47 困 changing to hexagram 56 旅

kùn
→
lǚ

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 56 旅, line 1

旅瑣瑣,斯其所取災。

The first line, divided, shows the stranger mean and meanly occupied. It is thus that he brings on himself (further) calamity.

Hexagram 56 旅, line 4

旅于處,得其資斧,我心不快。

The fourth line, undivided, shows the traveller in a resting-place, having (also) the means of livelihood and the axe, (but still saying), 'I am not at ease in my mind'

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 56 旅 — judgment

小亨,旅貞吉。

Lii intimates that (in the condition which it denotes) there may be some little attainment and progress. If the stranger or traveller be firm and correct as he ought to be, there will be good fortune.

The changing lines of hexagram 47

LineChineseLegge
2困于酒食,朱紱方來,利用亨祀,征凶,无咎。The second line, undivided, shows its subject straitened amidst his wine and viands. There come to him anon the red knee-covers (of the ruler). It will be well for him (to maintain his sincerity as) in sacrificing. Active operations (on his part) will lead to evil, but he will be free from blame.
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).
6困于葛藟,于臲卼,曰動悔。有悔,征吉。The sixth line, divided, shows its subject straitened, as if bound with creepers; or in a high and dangerous position, and saying (to himself), 'If I move, I shall repent it' If he do repent of former errors, there will be good fortune in his going forward.

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.