Hexagram 62 as yes or no
Hexagram 62 Small Excess as a yes-or-no answer
As an answer to a yes-or-no question Xiao Guo says: yes to the small version, no to the large one. The Judgment grants success, then draws the line in so many words — small affairs may be done, great affairs may not — and adds the rule of direction, 'fitting to go down, not up'. If what you ask about can be scaled down and done with extra care, the hexagram supports it; if it only exists as the bold version, wait for another time.
The changing lines sharpen this. In the lower trigram: line one says you are about to rise too soon, so no; line two says a small step past the usual channel is permitted, a limited yes; line three says you are underprotected and must guard first. In the upper trigram: line four says meet the situation as it is, move only with care and make no permanent commitment; line five says you cannot make it rain but may secure one helper, a small yes; the top line says you have overshot and must come down.
The hexagram in brief
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.
Keep it small, careful and humble; this is not the time for the big flight.
The judgment
小過：亨，利貞，可小事，不可大事。飛鳥遺之音，不宜上，宜下，大吉。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.
Which line changed?
A changing line sharpens the answer. Each line of 小過 Small Excess has its own page:
- 初六Six at the beginningflying too soon · the bird rises · nothing to be done
- 六二Six in the second placepassing the grandfather · meeting the minister · keeping distance
- 九三Nine in the third placeno extra guard · attacked from behind · evil
- 九四Nine in the fourth placemeeting without exceeding · going on is dangerous · do not fix forever
- 六五Six in the fifth placeclouds without rain · too high · the bird in the hole
- 上六Six at the topovershooting · the bird flies off · self-made calamity
The same hexagram for
Questions
- Does hexagram 62, Small Excess, mean yes or no?
- As an answer to a yes-or-no question Xiao Guo says: yes to the small version, no to the large one. The Judgment grants success, then draws the line in so many words — small affairs may be done, great affairs may not — and adds the rule of direction, 'fitting to go down, not up'. If what you ask about can be scaled down and done with extra care, the hexagram supports it; if it only exists as the bold version, wait for another time.
- What does Hexagram 62, 小過 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.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).