Cambios

Transformation · lines 2, 3, 5, and 6

The Army becomes Gradual Progress

師 7 The Army 漸 53 Gradual Progress
Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Lines two, three, five and six move, and a tree grows on a mountain: the army's push becomes a slow, rung-by-rung climb. The two places left unmoved, the first and fourth, offer the guidance. The first says early steps may be slow, and inexperience can make failure look likely, so people may gossip; there's nothing to fear. The fourth says that midway, things beyond your control can come up; don't despair, respond with caution and wisdom, and you'll stay safe while conditions improve.

The resulting hexagram, 53 Gradual Progress, describes progress in stages, made lasting by its pace, where hurrying brings delay. So the discipline of the campaign becomes patience. Ignore early gossip, handle surprises calmly, and keep climbing. Watch for trying to skip steps to prove yourself.

What to read, in order

Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.

  1. Line 1 of 53 Gradual Progress, which stays still

    Your first steps may be slow, and through lack of experience it may look at first as if you'll fail, so people will talk. Nothing to fear.

    The wild goose moves by degrees to the shore. The young one is in danger; there is talk. No fault.

  2. Line 4 of 53 Gradual Progress, which stays still

    In the middle of your progress, situations come up that are out of your control. Don't despair: act with caution and respond wisely to these obstacles. That way you'll stay safe while conditions improve.

    The wild goose moves by degrees to the tree. Perhaps it finds a flat branch. No fault.

  3. The judgment of 7 The Army

    Whatever your question, the favorable answer comes from acting with discipline and organization: face the situation head-on and speak clearly, say what you want, without trying to impose it.

    The constancy of a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No fault.

  4. Line 2 of 7 The Army

    Keep up your activity and discipline to reach what you want, and you'll get it.

    In the midst of the army: good fortune. No fault. Three times the king bestows his charge.

  5. Line 3 of 7 The Army

    If you don't keep up the conditions needed for success and you slacken in your task, there will be misfortune.

    Perhaps the army hauls corpses on its carts. Misfortune.

  6. Line 5 of 7 The Army

    Choosing the situations you're able to face will keep you out of useless fights.

    There is game in the field. It is favorable to seize it. No fault. The eldest son leads the army; the younger son hauls corpses. Even with constancy, misfortune.

  7. Line 6 of 7 The Army

    You'll get real achievements and results, but choose carefully who you surround yourself with right now.

    The great prince gives his command: founding states, conferring houses. Do not employ the petty person.

  8. The judgment of 53 Gradual Progress

    You'll make progress, and it will come step by step, gradually, through stages that make it lasting and stable. Trying to speed things up will bring delays and obstacles. Keep at it, one rung at a time.

    The woman goes to be married: good fortune. Constancy is favorable.

The trigrams

Below Water Mountain
Above Earth Wind

The way back

53 Gradual Progress → 7 The Army
lines 2, 3, 5, and 6

Other transformations of The Army

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

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