Hexagram 49 革 changing to hexagram 29 坎
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 4.
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 5
坎不盈，禔既平，无咎。
The fifth line, undivided, shows the water of the defile not yet full, (so that it might flow away); but order will (soon) be brought about. There will 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 49 革 — judgment
已日乃孚，元亨。利貞。悔亡。
(What takes place as indicated by) Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. (In that case) occasion for repentance will disappear.
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 49
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 鞏用黃牛之革。 | The first line, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox. |
| 2 | 已日乃革之，征吉，无咎。 | The second line, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error. |
| 3 | 征凶，貞厲，革言三就，有孚。 | The third line, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in. |
| 4 | 悔亡，有孚改命，吉。 | The fourth line, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune. |
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.