King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Hexagram 62 小過 changing to hexagram 46 升

xiǎo guò
→
shēng

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

What to read

Two changing lines: read both line texts of the original hexagram; the upper one is the main one. (Rule set out by Zhu Xi in the Yixue qimeng.)

Hexagram 62 小過, line 4

无咎,弗過遇之。往厲必戒,勿用永貞。

The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject falling into no error, but meeting (the exigency of his situation), without exceeding (in his natural course). If he go forward, there will be peril, and he must be cautious. There is no occasion to be using firmness perpetually.

Hexagram 62 小過, line 2

過其祖,遇其妣;不及其君,遇其臣;无咎。

The second line, divided, shows its subject passing by his grandfather, and meeting with his grandmother; not attempting anything against his ruler, but meeting him as his minister. There will be no error.

The two hexagrams

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.

Hexagram 46 升 — judgment

元亨,用見大人,勿恤,南征吉。

Shăng indicates that (under its conditions) there will be great progress and success. Seeking by (the qualities implied in it) to meet with the great man, its subject need have no anxiety. Advance to the south will be fortunate.

The changing lines of hexagram 62

LineChineseLegge
2過其祖,遇其妣;不及其君,遇其臣;无咎。The second line, divided, shows its subject passing by his grandfather, and meeting with his grandmother; not attempting anything against his ruler, but meeting him as his minister. There will be no error.
4无咎,弗過遇之。往厲必戒,勿用永貞。The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject falling into no error, but meeting (the exigency of his situation), without exceeding (in his natural course). If he go forward, there will be peril, and he must be cautious. There is no occasion to be using firmness perpetually.

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.