Hexagram 62, line 4
九四Line 4 of Small Excess
Nine in the fourth place · 小過 xiǎo guò
爻辭 The line text
无咎，弗過遇之。往厲必戒，勿用永貞。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.
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.
In plain words
Line four is strong in a weak place at the bottom of the thunder, the other yang line surrounded by yin, and the text opens with 'no blame' before explaining why: it 'does not exceed but meets' the situation (弗過遇之) — a strong line that has softened to fit a weak place, which the small Image calls the position not being appropriate and yet manageable. Then two cautions: 'to go forward is dangerous, one must be on guard', and 'do not use perpetual steadiness' — do not make a permanent rule of the firmness this moment calls for. The small Image closes the line: 'in the end it cannot last' (終不可長也). This is the strong line that survives the time of the small by bending.
If this line is changing
Adapt to the situation rather than overriding it, stay alert if you must move at all, and treat the firmness you are using now as temporary.
Where the line stands
- A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang 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 upper trigram 震 Zhen (the Arousing) (thunder).
- It corresponds (應) with line 1: 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 ䷎ 15 謙 Humility
A mountain hidden within the earth: greatness that stays low. The only hexagram whose six lines all turn out well — humility succeeds, and the superior person carries things through to the end.
What it becomes15 · 謙 HumilityqiānThe 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 fourth place of hexagram 62, Small Excess, mean?
- Line four is strong in a weak place at the bottom of the thunder, the other yang line surrounded by yin, and the text opens with 'no blame' before explaining why: it 'does not exceed but meets' the situation (弗過遇之) — a strong line that has softened to fit a weak place, which the small Image calls the position not being appropriate and yet manageable. Then two cautions: 'to go forward is dangerous, one must be on guard', and 'do not use perpetual steadiness' — do not make a permanent rule of the firmness this moment calls for. The small Image closes the line: 'in the end it cannot last' (終不可長也). This is the strong line that survives the time of the small by bending.
- What does hexagram 62 become when line 4 changes?
- Small Excess becomes hexagram 15, 謙 Humility: A mountain hidden within the earth: greatness that stays low. The only hexagram whose six lines all turn out well — humility succeeds, and the superior person carries things through to the end.
- Is line 4 of Small Excess 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).