Hexagram 61 中孚 changing to hexagram 2 坤
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 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 2 坤, line 3
含章，可貞。或從王事，无成有終。
The third line, divided, (shows its subject) keeping his excellence under restraint, but firmly maintaining it. If he should have occasion to engage in the king's service, though he will not claim the success (for himself), he will bring affairs to a good issue.
Hexagram 2 坤, line 4
括囊，无咎无譽。
The fourth line, divided, (shows the symbol of) a sack tied up. There will be no ground for blame or for praise.
The two hexagrams
Hexagram 61 中孚 — judgment
豚魚吉，利涉大川，利貞。
Kung Fû (moves even) pigs and fish, and leads to good fortune. There will be advantage in crossing the great stream. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
Hexagram 2 坤 — judgment
元亨。利牝馬之貞。
Khwăn (represents) what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and having the firmness of a mare. When the superior man (here intended) has to make any movement, if he take the initiative, he will go astray; if he follow, he will find his (proper) lord. The advantageousness will be seen in his getting friends in the south-west, and losing friends in the north-east. If he rest in correctness and firmness, there will be good fortune.
The changing lines of hexagram 61
| Line | Chinese | Legge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 虞吉，有它不燕。 | The first line, undivided, shows its subject resting (in himself). There will be good fortune. If he sought to any other, he would not find rest. |
| 2 | 鳴鶴在陰，其子和之，我有好爵，吾與爾靡之。 | The second line, undivided, shows its subject (like) the crane crying out in her hidden retirement, and her young ones responding to her. (It is as if it were said), 'I have a cup of good spirits' (and the response were), 'I will partake of it with you' |
| 5 | 有孚攣如，无咎。 | The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject perfectly sincere, and linking (others) to him in closest union. There will be no error. |
| 6 | 翰音登于天，貞凶。 | The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject in chanticleer (trying to) mount to heaven. Even with firm correctness there will be evil. |
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.