In practice
The judgment
You're surrounded by adverse people and situations. Avoid getting involved with those people, no matter what they offer you. Circumstances aren't good for acting or making decisions; it's time to withdraw to a safe place and wait for conditions to change. It's time to keep a low profile.
The poetry
Stagnation
Stagnation: these are not worthy people. The constancy of the noble person is not favorable. The great goes, the small comes.
The image
Heaven and earth do not join: stagnation. So the noble person draws back into their virtue to avoid danger and will not be honored with office and pay.
The lines
- Line 6上九
After a period of stagnation comes a stage of growth, well-being and harmony.
Stagnation is overturned. First stagnation, then joy.
- Line 5九五
The stagnation is ending, but you still need to act with caution until the situation is fully stable.
Stagnation comes to rest. For the great person, good fortune. “It may be lost, it may be lost”: tied to the leafy mulberry.
- Line 4九四
If you act genuinely and with inner integrity, you'll come out of any situation well and be rewarded.
There is a mandate. No fault. Companions share in the blessing.
- Line 3六三
Little by little things will improve; it's a matter of waiting patiently for justice to be done.
Embracing shame.
- Line 2六二
Even when adverse people and situations surround you, keeping your strength inside helps you get through this moment.
Embracing and obeying. For the petty person, good fortune; for the great person, stagnation. Success.
- Line 1初六
If you recognize the decline and withdraw in time, warning others about it, you'll succeed later on.
The grass is pulled up, and its tangled roots come too, each with its clump. Constancy brings good fortune. Success.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Decline turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1 and 2
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1 and 3
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2 and 3
- 42Increaselines 1 and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2 and 4
- 53Gradual Progresslines 3 and 4
- 21Bitinglines 1 and 5
- 64Transitionlines 2 and 5
- 56The Travelerlines 3 and 5
- 23The Falllines 4 and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 1 and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2 and 6
- 31Attractionlines 3 and 6
- 8Unionlines 4 and 6
- 16Passionlines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 1Activitylines 1, 2, and 3
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 2, and 4
- 37The Tribelines 1, 3, and 4
- 57Gentlenesslines 2, 3, and 4
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 2, and 5
- 30The Flamelines 1, 3, and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2, 3, and 5
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 4, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 4, and 5
- 52Abidinglines 3, 4, and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 2, and 6
- 49Renewallines 1, 3, and 6
- 28Excesseslines 2, 3, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 2, 4, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 3, 4, and 6
- 51Shocklines 1, 5, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 5, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 3, 5, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 7The Armylines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
否：否之匪人，不利君子貞，大往小來。
象曰：天地不交，否；君子以儉德辟難，不可榮以祿。
初六：拔茅茹以其彙，貞吉。亨。
六二：包承，小人吉，大人否。亨。
六三：包羞。
九四：有命，无咎，疇離祉。
九五：休否，大人吉。其亡其亡，繫于苞桑。
上九：傾否，先否後喜。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.