The Judgment of King Wen - The T'uan.
(What takes place as indicated by) Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. (In that case) occasion for repentance will disappear.
1. The first line, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
€ 'He is bound with (the skin of) a yellow ox:' ‹ he should in his circumstances be taking action.
2. The second line, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
€ 'He makes his changes when some time has passed:' ‹ what he does will be matter of admiration.
3. The third line, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in.
€ 'The change (contemplated) has been three times fully discussed:' ‹ to what else should attention (now) be directed?
4. The fourth line, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune.
€ 'The good fortune consequent on changing (existing) ordinances' is due to the faith reposed in his aims.
5. The fifth line, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him.
€ 'The great man produces his changes as the tiger does when he changes his stripes:' ‹ their beauty becomes more brilliant.
6. The sixth line, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct.
€ 'The superior man produces his changes as the leopard does when he changes his spots:' ‹ their beauty becomes more elegant.
'Small men change their faces;' ‹ they show themselves prepared to follow their ruler.
(What takes place as indicated by) Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. (In that case) occasion for repentance will disappear.
1. The first line, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
€ 'He is bound with (the skin of) a yellow ox:' ‹ he should in his circumstances be taking action.
2. The second line, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
€ 'He makes his changes when some time has passed:' ‹ what he does will be matter of admiration.
3. The third line, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in.
€ 'The change (contemplated) has been three times fully discussed:' ‹ to what else should attention (now) be directed?
4. The fourth line, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune.
€ 'The good fortune consequent on changing (existing) ordinances' is due to the faith reposed in his aims.
5. The fifth line, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him.
€ 'The great man produces his changes as the tiger does when he changes his stripes:' ‹ their beauty becomes more brilliant.
6. The sixth line, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct.
€ 'The superior man produces his changes as the leopard does when he changes his spots:' ‹ their beauty becomes more elegant.
'Small men change their faces;' ‹ they show themselves prepared to follow their ruler.
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Text source: The I Ching, The Book of Changes. Translated by James Legge.
The Commentary on the Judgments - The T'uan Chuan.
In Ko (we see) water and fire extinguishing each other; (we see also) two daughters dwelling together, but with their minds directed to different objects: ‹ (on account of these things) it is called (the hexagram of) Change.
'It is believed in (only) after it has been accomplished:' ‹ when the change has been made, faith is accorded to it.
(We have) cultivated intelligence (as the basis of) pleased satisfaction, (suggesting) 'great progress and success,' coming from what is correct.
What change thus takes place in the proper way, 'ocasion for reprentance disappears.
Heaven and earth undergo their changes, and the four seasons complete their functions. T'ang changed the appointment (of the line of Hsia to the throne), and Wu (that of the line of Shang), in accordance with (the will of) Heaven, and in response to (the wishes of) men. Great indeed is what takes place in a time of change.
The Great Symbolism - The Hsiang Chuan.
[The symbol of] the waters of a marsh and that for fire in the midst of them form Ko. The superior man, in accordance with this, regulates his (astronomical) calculations, and makes clear the seasons and times.
The Commentary on the Judgments - The T'uan Chuan.
In Ko (we see) water and fire extinguishing each other; (we see also) two daughters dwelling together, but with their minds directed to different objects: ‹ (on account of these things) it is called (the hexagram of) Change.
'It is believed in (only) after it has been accomplished:' ‹ when the change has been made, faith is accorded to it.
(We have) cultivated intelligence (as the basis of) pleased satisfaction, (suggesting) 'great progress and success,' coming from what is correct.
What change thus takes place in the proper way, 'ocasion for reprentance disappears.
Heaven and earth undergo their changes, and the four seasons complete their functions. T'ang changed the appointment (of the line of Hsia to the throne), and Wu (that of the line of Shang), in accordance with (the will of) Heaven, and in response to (the wishes of) men. Great indeed is what takes place in a time of change.
The Great Symbolism - The Hsiang Chuan.
[The symbol of] the waters of a marsh and that for fire in the midst of them form Ko. The superior man, in accordance with this, regulates his (astronomical) calculations, and makes clear the seasons and times.
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