Hexagram 40, line 3
六三Line 3 of Release
Six in the third place · 解 xiè
爻辭 The line text
負且乘，致寇至，貞吝。The third line, divided, shows a porter with his burden, (yet) riding in a carriage. He will (only) tempt robbers to attack him. However firm and correct he may (try to) be, there will be cause for regret.
負且乘，亦可醜也，自我致戎，又誰咎也。For 'a porter with his burden to be riding in a carriage' is a thing to be ashamed of. 'It is he himself that tempts the robbers to come:'—on whom besides can we lay the blame? (See Appendix III, i, 48.)
In plain words
A porter with his bundle riding in a carriage: he brings the robbers on himself, and steadiness will still end in regret. Line three is yin in a yang place at the top of Kan, the water, riding on the strong line at two and carrying the strong line at four on its back — a small person in a position above his station, displaying what he has no title to. The Xici quotes this line to explain how disorder is invited: by showing a treasure to the undeserving. The small Image is unsparing: this is 'shameful' (可醜), and 'since he himself brought the attackers, whom else can he blame?' (自我致戎，又誰咎也).
If this line is changing
If you are occupying a place or displaying an advantage you have not earned, step down from it before someone takes it from you; the trouble that follows will have been your own doing.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 坎 Kan (the Abysmal) (water).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 6: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
解 Release becomes ䷟ 32 恆 Constancy
Thunder and wind moving together without end: the lasting. Success and no blame for persevering in the right way; constancy is not standing still but moving reliably.
What it becomes32 · 恆 ConstancyhéngThe six lines of 解 Release
- 初六Six at the beginningno fault · where hard meets soft · simply rest
- 九二Nine in the second placethree foxes · the yellow arrow · the straight middle way
- 六三Six in the third placea porter in a carriage · inviting robbers · self-inflicted
- 九四Nine in the fourth placerelease your toe · letting go of the unworthy · friends come
- 六五Six in the fifth placethe superior person unties · small people withdraw · trust shown
- 上六Six at the topshooting the hawk · the high wall · removing the last rebel
Read 解 Release for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the third place of hexagram 40, Release, mean?
- A porter with his bundle riding in a carriage: he brings the robbers on himself, and steadiness will still end in regret. Line three is yin in a yang place at the top of Kan, the water, riding on the strong line at two and carrying the strong line at four on its back — a small person in a position above his station, displaying what he has no title to. The Xici quotes this line to explain how disorder is invited: by showing a treasure to the undeserving. The small Image is unsparing: this is 'shameful' (可醜), and 'since he himself brought the attackers, whom else can he blame?' (自我致戎，又誰咎也).
- What does hexagram 40 become when line 3 changes?
- Release becomes hexagram 32, 恆 Constancy: Thunder and wind moving together without end: the lasting. Success and no blame for persevering in the right way; constancy is not standing still but moving reliably.
- Is line 3 of Release in its correct place?
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).