What this change means
Water spreads over the Earth as the third and fifth lines move, leaving one solid line on top of the soft ground. The fifth line leads: standing with your neighbors rather than relying on riches, using power without abuse, and correcting mistakes after careful observation. The third line supports it, the noble person humble in toil, whose modesty keeps rivals from forming and lets the work reach its end. The resulting hexagram, 8 Union, says success now lies in joining with people aligned with your project, who can support you. It adds that you need the right qualities yourself to carry it through, and it even suggests consulting the coins again to see whether you have them. The movement is about gathering others around a shared aim. Be the kind of center people can trust, firm but not domineering, and let the alliance grow from fairness.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 5 of 15 Simplicity
If you hold a position of power, don't abuse it, but don't be careless about other people's mistakes either. It's time to observe and to take measured action.
Not rich, alongside the neighbors. It is favorable to attack and subdue. Nothing that is not favorable.
- Line 3 of 15 Simplicity
If, despite your position and fame, you stay humble, you won't create rivalries and you'll succeed.
A noble person humble in toil. Reaching the end: good fortune.
- The judgment of 15 Simplicity
This isn't the time to boast or show off. It's time to keep things simple and to make sure you act fairly; your qualities and talents will show on their own and be recognized.
Success. The noble person reaches the end.
- The judgment of 8 Union
Right now success lies in joining with people who are aligned with your project and who are a support for you. But it's important that you, too, have the qualities needed to carry it out; that's why you can toss the coins once more to find out whether you have those qualities.
Good fortune. Consult the oracle again: great and lasting constancy. No fault. The restless come from every side. The one who comes late: misfortune.
The trigrams
The way back
8 Union → 15 Simplicitylines 3 and 5
Other transformations of Simplicity
- 11Well-Beinglines 1 and 2
- 24Coming Backlines 1 and 3
- 7The Armylines 2 and 3
- 55Abundancelines 1 and 4
- 32What Lastslines 2 and 4
- 16Passionlines 3 and 4
- 63After the Endlines 1 and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 2 and 5
- 31Attractionlines 4 and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 1 and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2 and 6
- 23The Falllines 3 and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 4 and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.