Hexagram 49 革 changing to hexagram 52 艮
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 4, 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 52 艮, line 2
艮其腓,不拯其隨,其心不快。
The second line, divided, shows its subject keeping the calves of his legs at rest. He cannot help (the subject of the line above) whom he follows, and is dissatisfied in his mind.
Hexagram 52 艮, line 3
艮其限,裂其夤,厲閽心。
The third line, undivided, shows its subject keeping his loins at rest, and separating the ribs (from the body below). The situation is perilous, and the heart glows with suppressed excitement.
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 52 艮 — judgment
艮其背,不獲其身,行其庭,不見其人,无咎。
When one's resting is like that of the back, Kăn he loses all consciousness of self; when he walks in his courtyard, and does not see any (of the persons) in it,—there will be no error.
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. |
| 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. |
| 5 | 大人虎變,未占有孚。 | The fifth line, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him. |
| 6 | 君子豹變,小人革面,征凶,居貞吉。 | The sixth line, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct. |
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.