Hexagram 5 需 changing to hexagram 23 剝
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
What to read
Five changing lines: read the one unchanged line of the resulting hexagram. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)
Hexagram 23 剝, line 4
剝牀以膚，凶。
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject having overthrown the couch, and (going to injure) the skin (of him who lies on it). There will be evil.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 5 需 — judgment
有孚，光亨。貞吉，利涉大川。
Hsü intimates that, with the sincerity which is declared in it, there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
Hexagram 23 剝 — judgment
不利。有攸往。
Po indicates that (in the state which it symbolises) it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.
The changing lines of hexagram 5
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 需于郊，利用恆，无咎。 | The first line, undivided, shows its subject waiting in the distant border. It will be well for him constantly to maintain (the purpose thus shown), in which case there will be no error. |
| 2 | 需于沙，小有言，終吉。 | The second line, undivided, shows its subject waiting on the sand (of the mountain stream). He will (suffer) the small (injury of) being spoken (against), but in the end there will be good fortune. |
| 3 | 需于泥，致寇至。 | The third line, undivided, shows its subject in the mud (close by the stream). He thereby invites the approach of injury. |
| 5 | 需于酒食，貞吉。 | The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject waiting amidst the appliances of a feast. Through his firmness and correctness there will be good fortune. |
| 6 | 入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。 | The topmost line, divided, shows its subject entered into the cavern. (But) there are three guests coming, without being urged, (to his help). If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end. |
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.