Transformation · lines 3, 4, and 5
Great Achievements becomes Treading Carefully
What this change means
Lines three, four and five move: Heaven below becomes Lake, the Mountain on top dissolves into Heaven, giving 10 Treading Carefully. The two judgments share the weight, as three lines are changing. Great Achievements says your qualities favor bold, unusual action. The resulting hexagram describes a difficult situation where conducting yourself properly, with awareness and gentleness, makes even potential rivals give ground and perhaps become allies. Together they ask for boldness with tact. You can move forward into something demanding, but how you step matters as much as where. Read the people around you, respect what needs respecting, and don't trample anyone's position. Courtesy here isn't weakness; it's what lets a strong person pass through risky ground safely. Move with care and the way tends to open.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- The judgment of 26 Great Achievements
It's a good moment to leave your comfort zone and take on new actions, beyond what you think you can do. Heaven favors unusual actions that will lead you to success, because you have the qualities needed.
Constancy is favorable. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
- The judgment of 10 Treading Carefully
You're facing a difficult situation. If you know how to conduct yourself properly, moving with awareness and gentleness, even people who could be rivals and stand in your way will give ground, and may even become your allies.
Stepping on the tiger's tail; it does not bite. Success.
- Line 3 of 26 Great Achievements
The way is clearing little by little, and it's time to act; still, watch for situations that force you to stop at certain moments. At those times, keep preparing for when it's time to move forward.
Good horses in pursuit. Constancy in hardship is favorable. Each day, drill with the chariot and in defense. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- Line 4 of 26 Great Achievements
If you watch the circumstances and spot obstacles before they arise, preparing to overcome them when the time comes, you'll succeed.
The board on the calf's horns. Great good fortune.
- Line 5 of 26 Great Achievements
Facing the situations and people trying to stop you, not head-on but cleverly, ensures your success.
The tusks of a gelded boar. Good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
10 Treading Carefully → 26 Great Achievementslines 3, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Great Achievements
- 23The Falllines 1, 2, and 3
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 2, and 4
- 64Transitionlines 1, 3, and 4
- 21Bitinglines 2, 3, and 4
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 2, and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 3, and 5
- 42Increaselines 2, 3, and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1, 4, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 2, 4, and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 2, and 6
- 7The Armylines 1, 3, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 2, 3, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 1, 4, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 2, 4, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 3, 4, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 5, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 2, 5, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 3, 5, and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.