Hexagram 53, line 4
六四Line 4 of Gradual Advance
Six in the fourth place · 漸 jiàn
爻辭 The line text
鴻漸于木，或得其桷，无咎。The fourth line, divided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the trees. They may light on the flat branches. There will be no error.
或得其桷，順以巽也。'They may light on the flat branches:'—there is docility (in the line) going on to flexible penetration.
In plain words
The goose comes to the trees. A goose's webbed feet cannot grip a round branch; a tree is the wrong perch, and line four — yin in a yin place, the first line of Xun, mounted on the strong line three — is in a correct position but an uncomfortable one. The text finds the way through: 或得其桷, perhaps it finds a flat rafter-like branch to rest on, and then there is no blame. The small Image: 順以巽也, by compliance and gentle penetration — the line's own trigram virtue. A yielding line in an awkward spot survives by finding the one flat place and not insisting on more.
If this line is changing
This stage does not suit you and will not be made to; look for the one flat place where you can rest without strain, take it gracefully, and do not try to make the whole tree your home.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It belongs to the upper trigram 巽 Xun (the Gentle) (wind).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 1: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
漸 Gradual Advance becomes ䷠ 33 遯 Withdrawal
Heaven withdrawing from the mountain: retreat in good time. Yin grows, and the wise step back with dignity — success through retreat, small advantage in persevering.
What it becomes33 · 遯 WithdrawaldùnThe six lines of 漸 Gradual Advance
- 初六Six at the beginningthe shore · the young one · talked about
- 六二Six in the second placethe rock · eating at ease · earned
- 九三Nine in the third placedry land · going and not returning · defend together
- 六四Six in the fourth placethe tree · a flat branch · yielding
- 九五Nine in the fifth placethe hill · three years · what is wished
- 上九Nine at the topthe heights · feathers for ceremony · unconfused
Read 漸 Gradual Advance for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the fourth place of hexagram 53, Gradual Advance, mean?
- The goose comes to the trees. A goose's webbed feet cannot grip a round branch; a tree is the wrong perch, and line four — yin in a yin place, the first line of Xun, mounted on the strong line three — is in a correct position but an uncomfortable one. The text finds the way through: 或得其桷, perhaps it finds a flat rafter-like branch to rest on, and then there is no blame. The small Image: 順以巽也, by compliance and gentle penetration — the line's own trigram virtue. A yielding line in an awkward spot survives by finding the one flat place and not insisting on more.
- What does hexagram 53 become when line 4 changes?
- Gradual Advance becomes hexagram 33, 遯 Withdrawal: Heaven withdrawing from the mountain: retreat in good time. Yin grows, and the wise step back with dignity — success through retreat, small advantage in persevering.
- Is line 4 of Gradual Advance in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).