What this change means
The lowest three lines and the top move, and Good Manners turns into 7 The Army, water within the earth. The resulting hexagram's still lines, the fourth and fifth, guide the change. The fourth says that when the pieces for success aren't yet in place, withdrawing to wait for a better time is wiser. The fifth says choosing situations you can actually handle keeps you out of useless fights. The resulting hexagram asks for discipline and organization: face things directly, speak clearly, say what you want without imposing it. Good manners help, but they need structure behind them. Courtesy without preparation can't carry a hard situation. Pick your battles, prepare properly, and retreat with dignity when you aren't ready. Stepping back in good order is no disgrace.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 4 of 7 The Army, which stays still
If you feel you don't have enough in place to succeed, it's better to pull back and wait for a better moment to act again.
The army withdraws and makes camp. No fault.
- Line 5 of 7 The Army, which stays still
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.
- The judgment of 22 Good Manners
It's a time to be kind and courteous and to use good manners with others if you want good results in what you undertake. What might seem superficial at another time leads you to success now. It's a time to handle everyday matters, not great undertakings.
Success. In small things, it is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- Line 1 of 22 Good Manners
Success in everyday matters now depends on using the resources that are yours, and no more.
Adorning the feet; leaving the carriage and going on foot.
- Line 2 of 22 Good Manners
Pay attention to what is essential; combining it with good manners will bring you achievement.
Adorning the beard.
- Line 3 of 22 Good Manners
When well-being surrounds you, don't relax too much and lose yourself in it.
Adorned, as if soaked through. Lasting constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 6 of 22 Good Manners
Your true worth isn't on the outside: it lies in the wonderful jewel that lives within you, and others will recognize it.
White adornment. No fault.
- 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.
The trigrams
The way back
7 The Army → 22 Good Mannerslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
Other transformations of Good Manners
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 12Declinelines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 16Passionlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 8Unionlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.