In practice
The judgment
You're in a situation where you have to take second place to others; any personal initiative will lead to failure. Recognizing the moment and acting in keeping with it is all you can do until things change and you're in a better position.
The poetry
The Young Bride
Setting out brings misfortune. Nothing is favorable.
The image
Above the lake there is thunder: the young bride. So the noble person, keeping the far end in view, knows what wears away.
The lines
- Line 6上六
Holding a subordinate position with resentment or unease only makes you lose the rewards you'd find if you did it wholeheartedly.
The woman holds the basket, and there is nothing in it; the man cuts the sheep, and there is no blood. Nothing is favorable.
- Line 5六五
Calmly accepting a subordinate position right now will bring you success. Your talent will show in spite of a situation that seems unfavorable.
Emperor Yi gives his younger sister in marriage. The lady's sleeves were not as fine as the second wife's. The moon is nearly full. Good fortune.
- Line 4九四
If you know how to wait, you'll get what you want, and get it perfectly.
The young woman lets the time for her wedding pass. A late marriage has its hour.
- Line 3六三
Given the present circumstances, it's better to stay in a subordinate position than to be alone.
The young woman marries as a servant; she comes back and marries as a second wife.
- Line 2九二
Even if the person you answer to ignores you, keep your position and your loyalty: this will show your greatness.
The one-eyed can see. The constancy of the one who lives apart is favorable.
- Line 1初九
If you know how to hold your subordinate place and stay in the background, helping from there however you can without seeking the spotlight, things will go well.
The young woman marries as a second wife. The lame can walk. Setting out brings good fortune.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, A Subordinate Role turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 16Passionlines 1 and 2
- 32What Lastslines 1 and 3
- 55Abundancelines 2 and 3
- 7The Armylines 1 and 4
- 24Coming Backlines 2 and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 3 and 4
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1 and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 2 and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 3 and 5
- 60Thriftlines 4 and 5
- 64Transitionlines 1 and 6
- 21Bitinglines 2 and 6
- 14Wealthlines 3 and 6
- 41Decreaselines 4 and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 2, and 3
- 2Passivitylines 1, 2, and 4
- 46Going Uplines 1, 3, and 4
- 36Darknesslines 2, 3, and 4
- 45Meetinglines 1, 2, and 5
- 28Excesseslines 1, 3, and 5
- 49Renewallines 2, 3, and 5
- 29Waterlines 1, 4, and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 4, and 5
- 5Inactionlines 3, 4, and 5
- 35Advancelines 1, 2, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 3, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 2, 3, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 4, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 2, 4, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 3, 4, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 1, 5, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 2, 5, and 6
- 1Activitylines 3, 5, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 31Attractionlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 8Unionlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 63After the Endlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 23The Falllines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 12Declinelines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 42Increaselines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
歸妹：征凶，无攸利。
象曰：澤上有雷，歸妹；君子以永終知敝。
初九：歸妹以娣，跛能履，征吉。
九二：眇能視，利幽人之貞。
六三：歸妹以須，反歸以娣。
九四：歸妹愆期，遲歸有時。
六五：帝乙歸妹，其君之袂，不如其娣之袂良，月幾望，吉。
上六：女承筐无實，士刲羊无血，无攸利。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.