xiǎo guòAlso known as “Preponderance of the Small” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Hsiâo Kwo” (Legge)
small excessattention to detailmodest action
In plain words
Thunder on the mountain: the flying bird leaves its call behind. Success in small things, not great; better to come down than to go up — overdo the small virtues of respect, grief and thrift rather than attempt grand moves.
The attitude it asks for
Keep it small, careful and humble; this is not the time for the big flight.
Structure
Upper trigram☳震Zhen (the Arousing)雷 · thunder · Wood
Hsiâo Kwo indicates that (in the circumstances which it implies) there will be progress and attainment. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. (What the name denotes) may be done in small affairs, but not in great affairs. (It is like) the notes that come down from a bird on the wing;—to descend is better than to ascend. There will (in this way) be great good fortune.
In Hsiâo Kwo (we see) the small (lines) exceeding the others, and (giving the intimation of) progress and attainment.
Such 'exceeding, in order to its being advantageous, must be associated with firmness and correctness:'—that is, it must take place (only) according to (the requirements of) the time.
The weak (lines) are in the central places, and hence (it is said that what the name denotes) may be done in small affairs, and there will be good fortune.
Of the strong (lines one) is not in its proper place, and (the other) is not central, hence it is said that (what the name denotes) 'should not be done in great affairs.'
(In the hexagram) we have 'the symbol of a bird on the wing, and of the notes that come down from such a bird, for which it is better to descend than to ascend, thereby leading to great good fortune:'—to ascend is contrary to what is reasonable in the case, while to descend is natural and right.
The Image
山上有雷，小過；君子以行過乎恭，喪過乎哀，用過乎儉。
(The trigram representing) a hill and that for thunder above it form Hsiâo Kwo. The superior man, in accordance with this, in his conduct exceeds in humility, in mourning exceeds in sorrow, and in his expenditure exceeds in economy.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
弗遇過之，飛鳥離之，凶，是謂災眚。
The sixth line, divided, shows its subject not meeting (the exigency of his situation), and exceeding (his proper course). (It suggests the idea of) a bird flying far aloft. There will be evil. The case is what is called one of calamity and self-produced injury.
Its symbolism
弗遇過之，已亢也。
'He does not meet the exigency (of his situation), and exceeds (his proper course):'—(the position indicates) the habit of domineering.
The fifth line, divided, (suggests the idea) of dense clouds, but no rain, coming from our borders in the west. It also (shows) the prince shooting his arrow, and taking the bird in a cave.
Its symbolism
密雲不雨，已上也。
'There are dense clouds, but no rain:'—(the line) is in too high a place.
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject falling into no error, but meeting (the exigency of his situation), without exceeding (in his natural course). If he go forward, there will be peril, and he must be cautious. There is no occasion to be using firmness perpetually.
Its symbolism
弗過遇之，位不當也。往厲必戒，終不可長也。
'He meets the exigency (of his situation), without exceeding (the proper course):'—(he does so), the position being inappropriate (for a strong line). 'If he go forward, there will be peril, and he must be cautious:'—the result would be that his course would not be long pursued.
The third line, undivided, shows its subject taking no extraordinary precautions against danger; and some in consequence finding opportunity to assail and injure him. There will be evil.
Its symbolism
從或戕之，凶如何也。
'Some in consequence find opportunity to assail and injure him. There will be evil:'—how great will it be!
The second line, divided, shows its subject passing by his grandfather, and meeting with his grandmother; not attempting anything against his ruler, but meeting him as his minister. There will be no error.
Its symbolism
不及其君，臣不可過也。
'He does not attempt to reach his ruler:'—a minister should not overpass the distance (between his ruler and himself).
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 62, Small Excess, mean?
Thunder on the mountain: the flying bird leaves its call behind. Success in small things, not great; better to come down than to go up — overdo the small virtues of respect, grief and thrift rather than attempt grand moves.
Which trigrams form Small Excess?
震 above 艮 — thunder over mountain. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 大過 Great Excess.
What happens when a line of Small Excess 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 Small Excess in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - — — - - - - is Small Excess. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.