Hexagram 61 中孚 changing to hexagram 62 小過
Changing lines (counted from the bottom): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
What to read
All six lines change: read the judgment of the resulting hexagram. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)
Judgment of hexagram 62 小過
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 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 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 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' |
| 3 | 得敵，或鼓或罷，或泣或歌。 | The third line, divided, shows its subject having met with his mate. Now he beats his drum, and now he leaves off. Now he weeps, and now he sings. |
| 4 | 月既望，馬匹亡，无咎。 | The fourth line, divided, shows its subject (like) the moon nearly full, and (like) a horse (in a chariot) whose fellow disappears. There will be no error. |
| 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.