62. Xiao Guo | Small Exceeding | Zhou Yi | English

小（xiǎo）过（guò）：（）亨（hēng），（）利（lì）贞（zhēn）。（）可（kě）小（xiǎo）事（shì），（）不（bù）可（kě）大（dà）事（shì）。（）飞（fēi）鸟（niǎo）遗（yí）之（zhī）音（yīn），（）不（bù）宜（yí）上（shàng），（）宜（yí）下（xià），（）大（dà）吉（jí）。（）

Translation: 小过 / Small Exceeding: 亨，it is beneficial to remain upright。small matters may be undertaken，great matters should not be undertaken。飞鸟遗之音，不宜上，宜下，greatly auspicious。.

Reading note: This is the judgment of Xiao Guo (Small Exceeding), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

初（chū）六（liù）：（）飞（fēi）鸟（niǎo）以（yǐ）凶（xiōng）。（）

Translation: First Six: 飞鸟以misfortune。.

Reading note: The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

六（liù）二（èr）：（）过（guò）其（qí）祖（zǔ），（）遇（yù）其（qí）妣（bǐ），（）不（bù）及（jí）其（qí）君（jūn），（）遇（yù）其（qí）臣（chén），（）无（wú）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: Second Six: 过其祖，遇其妣，不及其君，遇其臣，no blame。.

Reading note: The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.

九（jiǔ）三（sān）：（）弗（fú）过（guò）防（fáng）之（zhī），（）从（cóng）或（huò）戕（qiāng）之（zhī），（）凶（xiōng）。（）

Translation: Third Nine: 弗过防之，从或戕之，misfortune。.

Reading note: The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

九（jiǔ）四（sì）：（）无（wú）咎（jiù），（）弗（fú）过（guò）遇（yù）之（zhī）。（）往（wǎng）厉（lì）必（bì）戒（jiè），（）勿（wù）用（yòng）永（yǒng）贞（zhēn）。（）

Translation: Fourth Nine: no blame，弗过遇之。往danger; be vigilant必戒，do not act yet永贞。.

Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “danger” calls for vigilance.

六（liù）五（wǔ）：（）密（mì）云（yún）不（bù）雨（yǔ），（）自（zì）我（wǒ）西（xī）郊（jiāo）。（）公（gōng）弋（yì）取（qǔ）彼（bǐ）在（zài）穴（xué）。（）

Translation: Fifth Six: Draft rendering: 密云不雨，自我西郊。公弋取彼在穴。.

Reading note: The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

上（shàng）六（liù）：（）弗（fú）遇（yù）过（guò）之（zhī），（）飞（fēi）鸟（niǎo）离（lí）之（zhī），（）凶（xiōng）。（）是（shì）谓（wèi）灾（zāi）眚（shěng）。（）

Translation: Top Six: 弗遇过之，飞鸟离之，misfortune。是谓灾眚。.

Reading note: The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

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62. Xiao Guo | Small Exceeding

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