What this change means
Mountain rests on mountain when the first four lines all move: the figure becomes 52 Abiding. With four lines changing, the still lines of the resulting hexagram lead. The fifth asks not only for calm and stillness but for quiet, since careless words could put you at risk. The top line speaks of a perfect stillness, an inner calm that lets you master what's outside, and calls it success. The resulting hexagram itself asks you to stay centered and wait for outer conditions to show when to act, without going beyond what's happening now. So in the middle of opposition, the strongest move is no move at all. Stop arguing, stop explaining, hold your tongue. Let your composure do the work. Calm that comes from inside tends to steady the situation better than any words.
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 52 Abiding, which stays still
You need not only to stay still and calm but also to keep quiet, because careless words could put you at risk.
Still the jaws; words come in order. Regret vanishes.
- Line 6 of 52 Abiding, which stays still
There's perfect stillness, an inner calm that lets you master what's outside. Success.
Deep stillness. Good fortune.
- The judgment of 38 Opposites
You're in a situation of opposition: the people around you are different from you, yet you need to share with them. This means that what you can achieve for now is small. Even so, don't give in. It matters that both you and they keep your own nature and contribute from there to a shared project.
In small matters, good fortune.
- Line 1 of 38 Opposites
Don't try to join with anyone by force; it's important to recognize differences, however large. Even if someone close to you pulls away for a while, let them go: they'll come back on their own.
Regret vanishes. The horse is lost: do not chase it; it comes back by itself. Seeing wicked people: no fault.
- Line 2 of 38 Opposites
You can reach agreements with people like you whom you're not in touch with, using skillful means to bring those meetings about.
Meets their lord in a back lane. No fault.
- Line 3 of 38 Opposites
Even if conditions turn against you and you're even attacked, staying true to yourself and to those you admire will lead you to success.
Sees the cart dragged back, the ox held fast; the driver, branded on the forehead, nose cut off. No beginning, but an end.
- Line 4 of 38 Opposites
Keeping to yourself in this time of opposition will help you find people who are truly like you and achieve success.
Alone in opposition, meets a worthy man; they trust each other. Danger. No fault.
- The judgment of 52 Abiding
It's a time of stillness, of staying centered and steady: that's the best way forward in your present situation. Sometimes you need to stop, calm and confident, and wait for outer conditions to show you it's time to act. Don't go beyond what's happening now. There's no action, only a harmonious stillness, and staying that way brings success.
Still at the back; the body is not reached. Walking in the courtyard; its people are not seen. No fault.
The trigrams
The way back
52 Abiding → 38 Oppositeslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Opposites
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 37The Tribelines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 28Excesseslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 49Renewallines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 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.