Hexagram 5 需 changing to hexagram 38 睽
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 3, 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 38 睽, line 1
悔亡,喪馬勿逐,自復;見惡人无咎。
The first line, undivided, shows that (to its subject) occasion for repentance will disappear. He has lost his horses, but let him not seek for them;—they will return of themselves. Should he meet with bad men, he will not err (in communicating with them).
Hexagram 38 睽, line 2
遇主于巷,无咎。
The second line, undivided, shows its subject happening to meet with his lord in a bye-passage. There will be no error.
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 38 睽 — judgment
小事吉。
Khwei indicates that, (notwithstanding the condition of things which it denotes), in small matters there will (still) be good success.
The changing lines of hexagram 5
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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.