What this change means
The whole lower trigram changes: the Lake becomes Mountain, and water now sits on a mountain slope. With three lines moving, both judgments carry equal weight. 60 Thrift is a call to save your time, energy and means for what's coming, so that challenges find you ready; the old text adds that a measure too bitter can't be kept up. 39 Held Back describes a road where each step forward runs into a block, forcing you to stop, step back and look for help from people who think like you. The two fit together. The obstacles are real, and you'll meet them one by one. What you've conserved is what lets you keep going between them. Don't burn your reserves trying to break through all at once. Pause when blocked, ask for support, and move again when you can.
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 60 Thrift
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.
Success. Bitter measure cannot be kept up with constancy.
- The judgment of 39 Held Back
Every time you advance, something blocks you, forcing you to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people who give you their support. That way you'll get past the obstacles one by one until the final victory.
The southwest is favorable; the northeast is not. It is favorable to see the great person. Constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 1 of 60 Thrift
Watch for the signs that tell you when it's time to stop.
Does not leave the courtyard inside the door. No fault.
- Line 2 of 60 Thrift
When it's time to move forward, hurry: hesitating without acting will bring trouble.
Does not leave the courtyard inside the gate. Misfortune.
- Line 3 of 60 Thrift
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.
The trigrams
The way back
39 Held Back → 60 Thriftlines 1, 2, and 3
Other transformations of Thrift
- 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
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.