Hexagram 53 漸 changing to hexagram 47 困
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 47 困, line 1
臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三歲不覿。
The first line, divided, shows its subject with bare buttocks straitened under the stump of a tree. He enters a dark valley, and for three years has no prospect (of deliverance).
Hexagram 47 困, line 5
劓刖，困于赤紱，乃徐有說，利用祭祀。
The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject with his nose and feet cut off. He is straitened by (his ministers in their) scarlet aprons. He is leisurely in his movements, however, and is satisfied. It will be well for him to be (as sincere) as in sacrificing (to spiritual beings).
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 53 漸 — judgment
女歸吉，利貞。
Kien suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune (attending it). There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
Hexagram 47 困 — judgment
亨，貞大人吉，无咎，有言不信。
In (the condition denoted by) Khwăn there may (yet be) progress and success. For the firm and correct, the (really) great man, there will be good fortune. He will fall into no error. If he make speeches, his words cannot be made good.
The changing lines of hexagram 53
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 鴻漸于磐，飲食衎衎，吉。 | The second line, divided, shows the geese gradually approaching the large rocks, where they eat and drink joyfully and at ease. There will be good fortune. |
| 3 | 鴻漸于陸，夫征不復，婦孕不育，凶；利禦寇。 | The third line, undivided, shows them gradually advanced to the dry plains. (It suggests also the idea of) a husband who goes on an expedition from which he does not return, and of a wife who is pregnant, but will not nourish her child. There will be evil. (The case symbolised) might be advantageous in resisting plunderers. |
| 4 | 鴻漸于木，或得其桷，无咎。 | The fourth line, divided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the trees. They may light on the flat branches. There will be no error. |
| 6 | 鴻漸于陸，其羽可用為儀，吉。 | The sixth line, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the large heights (beyond). Their feathers can be used as ornaments. 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.