Hexagram 53 漸 changing to hexagram 64 未濟
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 2, 3, 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 64 未濟, line 1
濡其尾，吝。
The first line, divided, shows its subject (like a fox) whose tail gets immersed. There will be occasion for regret.
Hexagram 64 未濟, line 6
有孚于飲酒，无咎，濡其首，有孚失是。
The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject full of confidence and therefore feasting (quietly). There will be no error. (If he) cherish this confidence, till he (is like the fox who) gets his head immersed, it will fail of what is right.
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 64 未濟 — judgment
亨。小狐汔濟，濡其尾，无攸利。
Wei Zî intimates progress and success (in the circumstances which it implies). (We see) a young fox that has nearly crossed (the stream), when its tail gets immersed. There will be no advantage in any way.
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. |
| 5 | 鴻漸于陵，婦三歲不孕，終莫之勝，吉。 | The fifth line, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the high mound. (It suggests the idea of) a wife who for three years does not become pregnant; but in the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. 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.