What this change means
The lake drowns the trees: the third and top lines move, and the strain of 6 Conflict reaches a breaking point. The top line leads, and it warns that insisting on being right will only make you lose; a prize won by force tends to be taken back. The third line gives you solid footing instead. Whatever you earned fairly stays yours, so let talk pass without fear.
The resulting hexagram, 28 Excesses, describes a load heavy enough to threaten what you've built. It calls for checking and strengthening the foundations and stepping out of your comfort zone. So shift from defending your position to reinforcing what supports it. Rely on your honest record, not on winning. Watch for wearing yourself out in a dispute while the base of your life needs attention.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 6 of 6 Conflict
Insisting on being right at this moment will only make you lose.
Perhaps a belt of honor is bestowed; before the morning is out, it is stripped away three times.
- Line 3 of 6 Conflict
What you've gained honestly can't be taken from you. Even if gossip comes up, don't be intimidated; hold firm.
Feeding on old virtue. Constancy is in danger; in the end, good fortune. If it serves in the king's affairs, no achievement of its own.
- The judgment of 6 Conflict
A conflict is arising that can't be solved by action; cleverness works better than force. Recognizing that you can't resolve anything right now, letting events take their course, and seeking the advice of someone wise in this area will help you get out of the conflict.
There is sincere trust, but it is blocked. Caution: stopping halfway brings good fortune; going all the way to the end, misfortune. It is favorable to see the great person. It is not favorable to cross the great river.
- The judgment of 28 Excesses
You're in a situation that calls for extraordinary measures to keep what you've achieved from collapsing. Check and strengthen the foundations that hold up your projects, take innovative action and step out of your comfort zone. That way your success is assured; otherwise, loss can't be avoided.
The ridgepole sags. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. Success.
The trigrams
The way back
28 Excesses → 6 Conflictlines 3 and 6
Other transformations of Conflict
- 25Innocencelines 1 and 2
- 1Activitylines 1 and 3
- 33Leaving Behindlines 2 and 3
- 61Inner Integritylines 1 and 4
- 20Observinglines 2 and 4
- 57Gentlenesslines 3 and 4
- 38Oppositeslines 1 and 5
- 35Advancelines 2 and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 3 and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 4 and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 1 and 6
- 45Meetinglines 2 and 6
- 29Waterlines 4 and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.