King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 5 需 changing to hexagram 25 无妄

xū
→
wú wàng

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 4, 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 25 无妄, line 1

无妄,往吉。

The first line, undivided, shows its subject free from all insincerity. His advance will be accompanied with good fortune.

Hexagram 25 无妄, line 5

无妄之疾,勿藥有喜。

The fifth line, undivided, shows one who is free from insincerity, and yet has fallen ill. Let him not use medicine, and he will have occasion for joy (in his recovery).

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 25 无妄 — judgment

元亨。利貞。其匪正有眚,不利有攸往。

Wû Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.

The changing lines of hexagram 5

LineChineseLegge
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.
4需于血,出自穴。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject waiting in (the place of) blood. But he will get out of the cavern.
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.