Progress

晉如，摧如，貞吉。罔孚，裕无咎。

Advancing, then checked. Constancy is favorable. Though not trusted, remaining at ease leaves no fault.

Advance is checked at Line 1 before recognition has taken hold. A firm bottom turns lower Earth into Thunder and produces Hexagram 21, Thunder below Fire.

晉如，愁如，貞吉。受茲介福，于其王母。

Advancing in sorrow. Constancy is favorable. A great blessing is received from the royal grandmother.

Line 2 advances in sorrow yet receives a blessing. Making it firm changes lower Earth to Water and yields Hexagram 64, a crossing not yet completed beneath Fire.

眾允，悔亡。

The many give their assent. Regret vanishes.

The many assent at Line 3, the upper edge of inner Earth. Its change raises Mountain below Fire and produces Hexagram 56.

晉如鼫鼠，貞厲。

Advancing like a large rat. Constancy meets danger.

The large rat enters outer Fire at Line 4. When that line yields, Fire becomes Mountain and the result is Hexagram 23, Mountain above Earth.

悔亡。失得勿恤，往，吉，无不利。

Regret vanishes. Do not grieve over loss or gain. Going onward is favorable; nothing is without benefit.

Line 5 occupies the open center of Fire and releases concern over gain and loss. Filling that center makes Heaven above Earth and yields Hexagram 12, a figure of separation.

晉其角，維用伐邑。厲吉无咎，貞吝。

Advancing with the horns, fit only for attacking one’s own city. Danger, yet favorable and without fault. Persistence brings regret.

At Line 6, advance reaches the horns. The traditional reading confines the punitive action to one’s own city. Changing the firm top to yielding turns Fire into Thunder and produces Hexagram 16 above Earth.