䷽ Minor Excess xiǎo guò
The Judgment
Success, favorable to perseverance; may undertake small affairs, but not great ones; the flying bird leaves its sound; it is not advisable to ascend, it is advisable to descend, great good fortune.
Interpretation:
Success and prosperity, beneficial for upholding the correct path. It is suitable for dealing with minor tasks but not for undertaking earth-shattering great endeavors. Like a flying bird chirping in the sky, it warns people not to fly too high but to act humbly in low places, which leads to great good fortune.
The Image
Thunder on the mountain, minor excess; the superior person, in action, exceeds in reverence; in mourning, exceeds in sorrow; in using, exceeds in frugality.
Structure
The Minor Excess hexagram is composed of the upper trigram Zhen (Thunder) and the lower trigram Gen (Mountain), forming the image of thunder on a mountain. The sound of thunder reverberates through the mountains, creating a sense of something extraordinary. Its hexagram shape has four yin lines on the outside and two yang lines on the inside. The number of yin lines 'exceeds' the yang lines, and the yang lines are encompassed within the yin lines, symbolizing 'yin excess' while 'yang does not excess,' hence it is called 'Minor Excess.' This indicates that one can slightly deviate from the norm in minor matters, but one must be cautious in major affairs. The hexagram also resembles a flying bird, with the two yang lines as the bird's body and the four yin lines as the wings. If the wings are too plump while the body is weak, the bird cannot fly high and can only fly low. This enlightens us that in specific periods, we should maintain a humble and cautious attitude, focus on details and small matters, avoid rashness and unrealistic ambitions, and seeking stability by descending is the best strategy.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial six: The flying bird brings misfortune.
Six in the second place: Passing by her ancestor, meeting her ancestress; not reaching her lord, meeting her minister; no blame.
Nine in the third place: Not guarding against excess, or following it will lead to injury, misfortune.
Nine in the fourth place: No blame, not meeting excess; if going is dangerous, one must be cautious, do not act, lasting perseverance.
Six in the fifth place: Dense clouds, but no rain, from our western suburbs; the Duke shoots and captures the one in the hole.
Top six: Not meeting it but passing by; the flying bird leaves it, misfortune, this is called disaster and calamity.
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Minor Excess hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: