What this change means
When the first, third and fourth lines move, both trigrams become Water, and the figure doubles into one pit after another. Three moving lines put the two judgments in balance. Overflowing tells of tension that has piled up and must be aired gently and eased by giving. The resulting hexagram, 29 Water, describes a time of repeated obstacles that you can still get past, like a stream that keeps flowing around whatever lies in its path. What matters is not to freeze. Fear tends to leave you stuck, while steady movement carries you through. Read together, they ask you to release the pressure without expecting the difficulties to end at once. Speak plainly but gently, share what you can, and keep going. Each obstacle passed is real progress, even when another follows close behind.
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 43 Overflowing
It's a time of excessive buildup: some situations are about to get out of control and overwhelm you, both personally and in your relationships. You need to bring what's happening into the open, but without speaking about it directly; watch your words so you don't provoke reactions. It's a time to act generously to ease the tension that's there.
It is proclaimed in the king's court. A sincere cry: there is danger. Word comes from one's own city. It is not favorable to take up arms. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- The judgment of 29 Water
Just as a stream moves through obstacles and gets past them, following its course without stagnating, you're at a time when obstacles will come one after another, but you'll get past them if you can keep moving. Letting fear paralyze you will only leave you stuck.
There is sincere trust. Only the heart gets through. Going earns esteem.
- Line 1 of 43 Overflowing
It's time to act slowly but firmly; acting in a hurry will make circumstances stop you.
Strength in the front toes. Going without prevailing is a fault.
- Line 3 of 43 Overflowing
This is a time when circumstances lead you to ally with people who aren't fully trustworthy. If you act clearly and don't lose your integrity despite the gossip, you'll succeed.
Strength in the cheekbones: there is misfortune. The noble person, resolute, resolute, walks alone and is caught in the rain; soaked, there is resentment. No fault.
- Line 4 of 43 Overflowing
You want to push ahead at all costs at a time when it isn't wise, and you refuse to listen to advice. That will lead you into trouble.
Buttocks without skin; the walk falters. Leading the ram by a rope: regret vanishes. Hears words and does not believe them.
The trigrams
The way back
29 Water → 43 Overflowinglines 1, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Overflowing
- 45Meetinglines 1, 2, and 3
- 39Held Backlines 1, 2, and 4
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 4
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 2, and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 3, and 5
- 51Shocklines 2, 3, and 5
- 46Going Uplines 1, 4, and 5
- 36Darknesslines 2, 4, and 5
- 19Fleeting Successlines 3, 4, and 5
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 2, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 1, 3, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 2, 3, and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 4, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 2, 4, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 3, 4, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 5, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 2, 5, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 3, 5, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.