above: Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven below: Ken Keeping Still, Mountain

The Judgement:
Retreat. Success. In what is small, perseverance furthers.

The Image:
Mountain under heaven:The Image of Retreat. Thus the superior man keeps the inferior man at a distance, not angrily but with reserve.

The Lines:

6 at the beginning:
At the tail in retreat. This is dangerous. One must not wish to undertake anything.

6 in the second place:
He holds him fast with yellow oxhide. No one can tear him loose.

9 in the third place:
A halted retreat is nerve-wracking and dangerous. To retain people as men- and maidservants brings good fortune.

9 in the fourth place:
Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior man and downfall to the inferior man.

9 in the fifth place:
Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune.

9 at the top:
Cheerful retreat. Everything serves to further.

above: Chen The Arousing, Thunder below: Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven

The Judgement:
The Power of the Great. Perseverance furthers.

The Image:
Thunder in heaven above: The image of the Power of the Great. Thus the superior man does not tread upon paths that do not accord with established order.

The Lines:

9 at the beginning:
Power in the toes. Continuing brings misfortune. This is certainly true.

9 in the second place:
Perseverance brings good fortune.

9 in the third place:
The inferior man works through power. The superior man does not act thus. To continue is dangerous. A goat butts against a hedge and gets its horns entangled.

9 in the fourth place:
Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. The hedge opens; there is no entanglement. Power depends upon the axle of a big cart.

6 in the fifth place:
Loses the goat with ease. No remorse.

6 at the top:
A goat butts against a hedge. It cannot go backward, it cannot go forward. Nothing serves to further. If one notes the difficulty, this brings good fortune.

above: Li The Clinging, Flame below: K'un The Receptive, Earth

The Judgement:
Progress. The powerful prince is honored with horses in large numbers. In a single day he is granted audience three times.

The Image:
The sun rises over the earth: The image of Progress. Thus the superior man himself brightens his bright virtue.

The Lines:

6 at the beginning:
Progressing, but turned back. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one meets with no confidence, one should remain calm. No mistake.

6 in the second place:
Progressing, but in sorrow. Perseverance brings good fortune. Then one obtains great happiness from one's ancestress.

6 in the third place:
All are in accord. Remorse disappears.

9 in the fourth place:
Progress like a hamster. Perseverance brings danger.

6 in the fifth place:
Remorse disappears. Take not gain and loss to heart. Undertakings bring good fortune. Everything serves to further.

9 at the top:
Making progress with the horns is permissible only for the purpose of punishing one's own city. To be conscious of danger brings good fortune. No blame. Perseverance brings humiliation.

above: K'un The Receptive, Earth below: Li The Clinging, Flame

The Judgement:
Darkening of the Light. In adversity it furthers one to be persevering.

The Image:
The light has sunk into the earth: The image of Darkening of the Light. Thus does the superior man live with the great mass: He veils his light, yet still shines.

The Lines:

9 at the beginning:
Darkening of the light during flight. He lowers his wings. The superior man does not eat for three days on his wanderings. But he has somewhere to go. The host has occasion to gossip about him.

6 in the second place:
Darkening of the light injures him in the left thigh. He gives aid with the strength of a horse. Good fortune.

9 in the third place:
Darkening of the light during the hunt in the south. Their great leader is captured. One must not expect perseverance too soon.

6 in the fourth place:
He penetrates the left side of the belly. One gets at the very heart of the darkening of the light, and leaves gate and courtyard.

6 in the fifth place:
Darkening of the light as with Prince Chi. Perseverance furthers.

6 at the top:
Not light but darkness. First he climbed up to heaven, then he plunged into the depths of the earth.

above: Sun The Gentle, Wind below: Li The Clinging, Flame

The Judgement:
The Family. The perseverance of the woman furthers.

The Image:
Wind comes forth from fire: The image of the Family. Thus the superior man has substance in his words and duration in his way of life.

The Lines:

9 at the beginning:
Firm seclusion within the family. Remorse disappears.

6 in the second place:
She should not follow her whims. She must attend within to the food. Perseverance brings good fortune.

9 in the third place:
When tempers flare up in the family, too great severity brings remorse. Good fortune nonetheless. When woman and child dally and laugh, it leads in the end to humiliation.

6 in the fourth place:
She is the treasure of the house. Great good fortune.

9 in the fifth place:
As a king he approaches his family. Fear not. Good fortune.

9 at the top:
His work commands respect. In the end good fortune comes.

above: Li The Clinging, Flame below: Tui The Joyous, Lake

The Judgement:
Opposition. In small matters, good fortune.

The Image:
Above, fire; below, the lake: The image of Opposition. Thus amid all fellowship the superior man retains his individuality.

The Lines:

9 at the beginning:
Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not run after it; it will come back of its own accord. When you see evil people, guard yourself against mistakes.

9 in the second place:
One meets his lord in a narrow street. No blame.

6 in the third place:
One sees the wagon dragged back, the oxen halted, a man's hair and nose cut off. Not a good beginning, but a good end.

9 in the fourth place:
Isolated through opposition, one meets a like-minded man with whom one can associate in good faith. Despite the danger, no blame.

6 in the fifth place:
Remorse disappears. The companion bites his way through the wrappings. If one goes to him, how could it be a mistake?

9 at the top:
Isolated through opposition, one sees one's companion as a pig covered with dirt, as a wagon full of devils. First one draws a bow against him, then one lays the bow aside. He is not a robber; he will woo at the right time. As one goes, rain falls; then good fortune comes.

above: K'an The Abysmal, Water below: Ken Keeping Still, Mountain

The Judgement:
Obstruction. The southwest furthers. The northeast does not further. It furthers one to see the great man. Perseverance brings good fortune.

The Image:
Water on the mountain: The image of Obstruction. Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself and molds his character.

The Lines:

6 at the beginning:
Going leads to obstructions, coming meets with praise.

6 in the second place:
The king's servant is beset by obstruction upon obstruction, but it is not his own fault.

9 in the third place:
Going leads to obstructions; hence he comes back.

6 in the fourth place:
Going leads to obstructions, coming leads to union.

9 in the fifth place:
In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come.

6 at the top:
Going leads to obstructions, coming leads to great good fortune. It furthers one to see the great man.

above: Chen The Arousing, Thunder below: K'an The Abysmal, Water

The Judgement:
Deliverance. The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune. If there is still something where one has to go,   hastening brings good fortune.

The Image:
Thunder and rain set in: The image of Deliverance. Thus the superior man pardons mistakes and forgives misdeeds.

The Lines:

6 at the beginning:
Without blame.

9 in the second place:
One kills three foxes in the field and receives a yellow arrow. Perseverance brings good fortune.

6 in the third place:
If a man carries a burden on his back and nonetheless rides in a carriage, he thereby encourages robbers to draw near. Perseverance leads to humiliation.

9 in the fourth place:
Deliver yourself from your great toe. Then the companion comes, and him you can trust.

6 in the fifth place:
If only the superior man can deliver himself, it brings good fortune. Thus he proves to inferior men that he is in earnest.

6 at the top:
The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall. He kills it. Everything serves to further.