In practice
The judgment
It's a time to conserve your time, energy and resources so you're ready for what lies ahead. If you do, when challenges arrive you'll be prepared and will overcome them easily.
The poetry
Measure
Success. Bitter measure cannot be kept up with constancy.
The image
Water above the lake: measure. So the noble person fixes number and degree, and weighs virtue and conduct.
The lines
- Line 6上六
There are times when restrictions that seem extreme are called for. This is an exceptional time and it needs that kind of behavior, but don't keep it up too long.
Bitter measure. Even with constancy, misfortune. Regret vanishes.
- Line 5九五
Accept the restrictions of the moment for yourself too, not only for others; this will lead you to success.
Sweet measure. Good fortune. Going earns esteem.
- Line 4六四
For good results right now, the limits you set yourself shouldn't be excessive, and you should find a way to enjoy them, to see their kinder side.
Calm measure. Success.
- Line 3六三
When you can't hold yourself back and set limits, you bring on trouble. If you recognize it and do something about it, you'll get past the obstacles.
One without measure will sigh afterward. No fault.
- Line 2九二
When it's time to move forward, hurry: hesitating without acting will bring trouble.
Does not leave the courtyard inside the gate. Misfortune.
- Line 1初九
Watch for the signs that tell you when it's time to stop.
Does not leave the courtyard inside the door. No fault.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Thrift turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 8Unionlines 1 and 2
- 48Right Actionlines 1 and 3
- 63After the Endlines 2 and 3
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1 and 4
- 17Adaptinglines 2 and 4
- 43Overflowinglines 3 and 4
- 7The Armylines 1 and 5
- 24Coming Backlines 2 and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 3 and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 4 and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1 and 6
- 42Increaselines 2 and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 3 and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 4 and 6
- 41Decreaselines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 39Held Backlines 1, 2, and 3
- 45Meetinglines 1, 2, and 4
- 28Excesseslines 1, 3, and 4
- 49Renewallines 2, 3, and 4
- 2Passivitylines 1, 2, and 5
- 46Going Uplines 1, 3, and 5
- 36Darknesslines 2, 3, and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 4, and 5
- 51Shocklines 2, 4, and 5
- 34Great Manifestationlines 3, 4, and 5
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 3, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 2, 3, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 1, 4, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 2, 4, and 6
- 1Activitylines 3, 4, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 5, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 2, 5, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 3, 5, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 31Attractionlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 16Passionlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 55Abundancelines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 12Declinelines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 23The Falllines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
節：亨。苦節不可貞。
象曰：澤上有水，節；君子以制數度，議德行。
初九：不出戶庭，无咎。
九二：不出門庭，凶。
六三：不節若，則嗟若，无咎。
六四：安節，亨。
九五：甘節，吉；往有尚。
上六：苦節，貞凶，悔亡。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.