Bi, six in the third placeHexagram 8, line 3 · Bi (Alliance) · changing to 39

The line

The Image commentary on this line

比之匪人，不亦傷乎！

"Drawing close to the wrong people": is that not painful?

The small Image commentary is the earliest explanation of the line texts. It usually explains a line from its position: where it stands, whether it holds the center, and which line answers it.

Verdict

止Hold back. The text gives no verdict, but the picture is a bad one. Carry on as you are and you will lose by it. Stop, step aside, or change your approach.

How to read good fortune, misfortune, regret, humiliation and no blame →

Asking about work, love or money

Work

The people you are closest to are exactly the ones you shouldn't follow. Stop running with them and doing their errands; see them clearly, and put some distance between you.

Love

You are drawing close to someone you shouldn't, and the closer you get, the more you hurt yourself. See the other person clearly and stop investing yourself; if it is the wrong person, let go.

Money

The people you work and deal in money with are the wrong sort, and working with them any longer will only hurt you. Put in no more money, guarantee nothing more, part ways early, and leave that circle.

This is how to read it when this is the only changing line. With several changing lines, first see which text governs; for the hexagram as a whole, see Bi.

Line position

A yin line in a yang place: it is not in its proper place. Its partner is the top line, which is also yin, so there is no answer from it.

Third place: the top of the lower trigram, a place of risk. A moment of transition. Be on guard.

Proper place, center and correspondence explained →

When you get this line

If this is the only changing line in your cast (three inscribed sides, old yin), this line is your answer. The primary hexagram is Bi (Alliance); when this line changes it becomes Jian (Obstruction): hexagram 8 changing to 39.

Which text to read with several changing lines →