King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 5 需 changing to hexagram 62 小過

xū
→
xiǎo guò

Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 4, 5.

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 62 小過, line 3

弗過防之,從或戕之,凶。

The third line, undivided, shows its subject taking no extraordinary precautions against danger; and some in consequence finding opportunity to assail and injure him. There will be evil.

Hexagram 62 小過, line 6

弗遇過之,飛鳥離之,凶,是謂災眚。

The sixth line, divided, shows its subject not meeting (the exigency of his situation), and exceeding (his proper course). (It suggests the idea of) a bird flying far aloft. There will be evil. The case is what is called one of calamity and selfproduced injury.

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 62 小過 — judgment

亨。利貞。可小事,不可大事。飛鳥遺之音,不宜上宜下,大吉。

Hsiâo Kwo indicates that (in the circumstances which it implies) there will be progress and attainment. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. (What the name denotes) may be done in small affairs, but not in great affairs. (It is like) the notes that come down from a bird on the wing;—to descend is better than to ascend. There will (in this way) be great good fortune.

The changing lines of hexagram 5

LineChineseLegge
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.
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.

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.