Hexagram 62, line 3
九三Line 3 of Small Excess
Nine in the third place · 小過 xiǎo guò
爻辭 The line text
弗過防之，從或戕之，凶。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.
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!
In plain words
Line three is a strong line in a strong place at the top of the mountain, correct but not central, one of the two yang lines hemmed in by four yin. In a time when the small exceeds, a strong line ought to take more than ordinary precautions; this one 'does not exceed in guarding' (弗過防之), trusting its correctness, and 'those who follow may do it harm'. The text says evil. The small Image's comment is an exclamation rather than an explanation — 'how great the evil!' (凶如何也) — because the line had the means to protect itself and did not use them. In the hexagram's story this is where the strong learn that the time belongs to the small.
If this line is changing
Being in the right is not a defence here; take more precautions than feel necessary, especially against those close behind you.
Where the line stands
- A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang 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 lower trigram 艮 Gen (Keeping Still) (mountain).
- It corresponds (應) with line 6: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
小過 Small Excess becomes ䷏ 16 豫 Delight
Thunder bursting out of the earth: music, enthusiasm, movement in harmony with the time. Favourable to appoint helpers and set things in motion.
What it becomes16 · 豫 DelightyùThe six lines of 小過 Small Excess
- 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
Read 小過 Small Excess for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Nine in the third place of hexagram 62, Small Excess, mean?
- Line three is a strong line in a strong place at the top of the mountain, correct but not central, one of the two yang lines hemmed in by four yin. In a time when the small exceeds, a strong line ought to take more than ordinary precautions; this one 'does not exceed in guarding' (弗過防之), trusting its correctness, and 'those who follow may do it harm'. The text says evil. The small Image's comment is an exclamation rather than an explanation — 'how great the evil!' (凶如何也) — because the line had the means to protect itself and did not use them. In the hexagram's story this is where the strong learn that the time belongs to the small.
- What does hexagram 62 become when line 3 changes?
- Small Excess becomes hexagram 16, 豫 Delight: Thunder bursting out of the earth: music, enthusiasm, movement in harmony with the time. Favourable to appoint helpers and set things in motion.
- Is line 3 of Small Excess 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).