Coming to Meet

繫于金柅，貞吉。有攸往，見凶。羸豕孚蹢躅。

Tied to a metal brake, constancy is favorable. Going forward meets misfortune. A lean pig is sure to pace and struggle.

Line 1 is the single yielding entry beneath five firm lines, held at the first point of motion. Making it firm turns Wind into Heaven and produces Hexagram 1, an unbroken six-line figure.

包有魚，无咎，不利賓。

The wrapping contains a fish. No fault. It is not favorable to share it with guests.

At Line 2, the fish is contained close to the first yielding line. The traditional reading keeps that encounter from spreading to the other firm lines, figured as guests. Changing Line 2 makes Mountain below Heaven, Hexagram 33.

臀无膚，其行次且，厲，无大咎。

The buttocks have no skin, and walking is halting. Danger, but no great fault.

Line 3 reaches the edge of inner Wind without a seat or easy gait. Its change makes Water below Heaven and produces Hexagram 6, Conflict between opposing movements.

包无魚，起凶。

The wrapping has no fish. Misfortune arises.

The wrapping is empty at Line 4, where outer Heaven has lost contact with the fish below. Making that line yielding turns Heaven into Wind and gives Hexagram 57, doubled Wind.

以杞包瓜，含章，有隕自天。

A tall tree shelters a melon. Brilliance is held within; something descends from heaven.

Zhu Xi reads Line 5 as a sturdy tree sheltering a delicate melon. Brilliance remains concealed, while something arrives unexpectedly from heaven. Changing the firm center makes Fire above Wind, Hexagram 50.

姤其角，吝，无咎。

Encountering with the horns. Regret, but no fault.

Encounter reaches the horns at Line 6, the hard upper limit. When the firm top yields, Heaven becomes Lake and the result is Hexagram 28, Lake above Wind under an exceptional load.