Hexagram 62 of 64

Small Preponderance小過

Thunder on the mountain. The noble person leans toward too much respect in conduct, too much grief in mourning, too much thrift in spending.

Upper
Thunder
Lower
Mountain
Order
62 / 64
Pick a line to read it

亨。利貞。可小事，不可大事。飛鳥遺之音，不宜上宜下，大吉。

Judgment: Success. Steadiness pays. Small things can be done, great things cannot. A flying bird leaves its song behind. It should not climb but come down. Great good fortune.

山上有雷，小過；君子以行過乎恭，喪過乎哀，用過乎儉。

Image: Thunder on the mountain. The noble person leans toward too much respect in conduct, too much grief in mourning, too much thrift in spending.

In plain words

The situation: Only small things will work now.

What you can do: Keep low, and do not reach too high.

For culture and reflection only. Our own plain summary, not a translation.

The six lines

  1. 上六弗遇過之，飛鳥離之，凶，是謂災眚。Not meeting it, passing it. The flying bird leaves. Misfortune. This is called disaster.In shortOvershooting and flying ever higher invites trouble; unfavorable.
  2. 六五密雲不雨，自我西郊，公弋取彼在穴。Dense clouds but no rain, coming from our western lands. The duke shoots and takes it from its cave.In shortClouds gather but no rain yet; bring in capable help to get things done.
  3. 九四无咎，弗過遇之。往厲必戒，勿用永貞。No fault. Do not pass it, meet it. Going on brings danger: be on guard. Do not act on lasting steadiness.In shortNo fault if you don't push; going ahead is risky, so stay alert and flexible.
  4. 九三弗過防之，從或戕之，凶。Without going too far to guard against it, someone may follow and strike you. Misfortune.In shortWithout extra caution you may be undercut; unfavorable, so guard yourself.
  5. 六二過其祖，遇其妣；不及其君，遇其臣；无咎。Passing your grandfather, you meet your grandmother. Not reaching the ruler, you meet the minister. No fault.In shortYou cannot reach the top, so go to the right person below; no fault.
  6. 初六飛鳥以凶。The flying bird meets misfortune.In shortTrying to fly before you are ready is unwise; stay low.

Sources Zhou Yi. English by TaoDial.