Scryway

Hexagram 62

小過 Xiǎo Guò · Small excess

Legge: Hsiao Kwo

☳ Thunder (Zhèn) above ☶ Mountain (Gèn)

Scryway summary

Modern commentary written for Scryway. Not part of the classic text.

Small things can be done, great things not now. Stay low, like a bird that keeps near the ground.

The judgment

Hsiao 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.

The image

(The trigram representing) a hill and that for thunder above it form Hsiao Kwo. The superior man, in accordance with this, in his conduct exceeds in humility, in mourning exceeds in sorrow, and in his expenditure exceeds in economy.

The lines, bottom to top

  1. Bottom line, broken

    The first line, divided, suggests (the idea of) a bird flying, (and ascending) till the issue is evil.

  2. Second line, broken

    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.

  3. Third line, solid

    The third line, undivided, shows its subject taking no extraordinary precautions against danger; and some in consequence finding opportunity to assail and injure him. There will be evil.

  4. Fourth line, solid

    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.

  5. Fifth line, broken

    The fifth line, divided, (suggests the idea) of dense clouds, but no rain, coming from our borders in the west. It also (shows) the prince shooting his arrow, and taking the bird in a cave.

  6. Top line, broken

    The sixth line, divided, shows its subject not meeting (the exigency of his situation), and exceeding (his proper course). (It suggests the idea of) a bird flying far aloft. There will be evil. The case is what is called one of calamity and self-produced injury.

Quoted from James Legge (trans.), The Yi King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1882. Public domain. The image is from Legge’s Appendix II. Words in parentheses are Legge’s additions.