línAlso known as “Approach” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Lin” (Legge)
approachoversightgrowing influence
In plain words
Earth over the lake: looking down from the shore. Yang grows and influence approaches — supreme success now, with a warning that the eighth month brings a turn.
The attitude it asks for
Lead with care and generosity while your influence grows, and plan for the season when it wanes.
Structure
Upper trigram☷坤Kun (the Receptive)地 · earth · Earth
Lin (indicates that under the conditions supposed in it) there will be great progress and success, while it will be advantageous to be firmly correct. In the eighth month there will be evil.
Commentary on the Judgment
臨，剛浸而長。說而順，剛中而應，大亨以正，天之道也。至于八月有凶，消不久也。
In Lin (we see) the strong (lines) gradually increasing and advancing.
(The lower trigram is the symbol of) being pleased, and (the upper of) being compliant. The strong (line) is in the central position, and is properly responded to.
'There is great progress and success, along with firm correctness:'—this is the way of Heaven.
'In the eighth month there will be evil:'—(the advancing power) will decay after no long time.
The Image
澤上有地，臨；君子以教思无窮，容保民无疆。
(The trigram for) the waters of a marsh and that for the earth above it form Lin. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his purposes of instruction that are inexhaustible, and nourishes and supports the people without limit.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
敦臨，吉无咎。
The sixth line, divided, shows the advance of honesty and generosity. There will be good fortune, and no error.
Its symbolism
敦臨之吉，志在內也。
'The good fortune consequent on the advance of honesty and generosity' is due to the will (of the subject of the line) being set on the subjects of (the first two lines of) the inner (trigram).
The third line, divided, shows one well pleased (indeed) to advance, (but whose action) will be in no way advantageous. If he become anxious about it (however), there will be no error.
Its symbolism
甘臨，位不當也。既憂之，咎不長也。
'He (shows himself) well pleased to advance:'—his position is not that appropriate to him. 'If he become anxious, however, about his action,' his error will not be continued.
The second line, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the first line). There will be good fortune; (advancing) will be in every way advantageous.
Its symbolism
咸臨，吉无不利；未順命也。
'The good fortune and every possible advantage attending the advance (of the subject of the second line), in company (with the subject of the first),' arises from the fact that those (to whom the advance is made) are not yet obedient to the ordinances (of Heaven).
The first line, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the second line). Through his firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
咸臨貞吉，志行正也。
'The good fortune through the firm correctness of (the subject of the first line) advancing in company (with the subject of the second)' is due to his will being set on doing what is right.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 19, Overseeing, mean?
Earth over the lake: looking down from the shore. Yang grows and influence approaches — supreme success now, with a warning that the eighth month brings a turn.
Which trigrams form Overseeing?
坤 above 兌 — earth over lake. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 復 Returning.
What happens when a line of Overseeing changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Overseeing in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — — - - - - - - - - is Overseeing. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.