Preponderance of the Great

藉用白茅，无咎。

White thatching grass is laid underneath as a mat. No fault.

Line 1 places white thatching grass beneath the load, adding care at the point of support. Firming the bottom line turns lower Wind into Heaven and produces Hexagram 43, Lake above Heaven.

枯楊生稊，老夫得其女妻，无不利。

A withered poplar sends out a root shoot. An old man takes a young wife. Nothing is without benefit.

Line 2 pairs a withered poplar's new shoot with an old man and a young wife. This is a received Zhou image, not a modern prescription. The line's change makes Mountain below Lake and yields Hexagram 31.

棟橈，凶。

The ridgepole bends. Misfortune.

At Line 3, the ridgepole bends where inner Wind reaches its upper edge. Changing the firm line to yielding gives Water below Lake, Hexagram 47.

棟隆，吉。有它吝。

The ridgepole rises. Favorable. Seeking other support brings regret.

At Line 4 the ridgepole rises, but the text warns against seeking additional support. Zhu Xi connects that warning with dependence on the first line. Changing Line 4 replaces upper Lake with Water above the same inner Wind, producing Hexagram 48.

枯楊生華，老婦得其士夫，无咎无譽。

The withered poplar puts out flowers; an old woman gains a young husband. Neither fault nor praise.

At Line 5, the received text pairs late flowering with an old woman and a young husband; the pair remains historical rather than prescriptive. Changing the line turns outer Lake into Thunder and produces Hexagram 32, Thunder above Wind.

過涉滅頂，凶，无咎。

Crossing beyond measure, the water covers the head. Misfortune, yet no fault.

The crossing covers the head at Line 6, yet the text separates misfortune from fault. A firm top changes Lake into Heaven, producing Hexagram 44, where one yielding line remains beneath five firm ones.