What this change means
Thunder and lightning take the place of fire under the mountain when the fourth and third lines move, and Good Manners becomes 21 Biting. The fourth leads with good news: great well-being is coming, and you can enjoy it; what approaches is a suitor, not a raider. The third adds the warning: don't let that comfort soak you so thoroughly that you lose your steadiness. The resulting hexagram changes the tone sharply. It asks for firm, decisive action to overcome obstacles, with clear limits and without fear. Pleasant times can hide a problem that needs biting through. Enjoy what comes, but don't let politeness or ease stop you from acting when something must be dealt with. Grace and firmness can go together.
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 22 Good Manners
A time of great well-being is coming, and you can allow yourself to enjoy it.
Adorned and white; a white horse as if on wings. Not a raider: one who comes to ask for marriage.
- 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.
- 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.
- The judgment of 21 Biting
It's a time for firm, decisive action to overcome obstacles, even legal action if needed. Success is within reach if you act with energy and set limits. Don't be afraid: act.
Success. It is favorable to bring things to judgment.
The trigrams
The way back
21 Biting → 22 Good Mannerslines 3 and 4
Other transformations of Good Manners
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1 and 2
- 23The Falllines 1 and 3
- 41Decreaselines 2 and 3
- 56The Travelerlines 1 and 4
- 14Wealthlines 2 and 4
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1 and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 2 and 5
- 42Increaselines 3 and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 4 and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 1 and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 2 and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 3 and 6
- 55Abundancelines 4 and 6
- 63After the Endlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.