Hexagram 35 Jin - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Progress
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BY NICOLE LAU
Hexagram 35 Jin - Complete Guide Part 2: The Six Lines and the Stages of Progress
Jin’s six lines describe the trajectory of rising to prominence. The journey begins with initial hesitation and lack of trust, moves through steady alignment with higher powers, and culminates in the aggressive but necessary removal of final obstacles. It is a guide on how to handle increasing visibility and power.
Line 1 — Six at the Bottom: Hesitant Progress
Progressing, but turned back. Perseverance brings good fortune. If one meets with no confidence, one should remain calm. No mistake.
The first line describes the very beginning of the sunrise. The light is just breaking the horizon, and progress feels halting. The person is pushing forward but facing resistance or rejection ("turned back"). This is the classic experience of a newcomer trying to make their mark—they have the talent, but no one trusts them yet ("meets with no confidence"). The wisdom here is not to force it or get angry. Remain calm, keep your attitude generous, and persevere. Over time, the light will establish itself. No mistake.
- Stage: Initial advance met with skepticism or delays
- Action: Do not take rejection personally; remain calm and keep working
- Wisdom: Good fortune — patience at the beginning ensures long-term trust
Line 2 — Six in the Second Place: Progress in Sorrow
Progressing, but in sorrow. Perseverance brings good fortune. Then one obtains great happiness from one’s ancestress.
The second line describes progress that is occurring, but under a cloud of anxiety or grief. The person is moving forward, but they feel isolated or lack the immediate support of their direct superior. They are doing the right thing, but it feels lonely and difficult ("in sorrow"). However, because they are in the center of the lower trigram (correct and steadfast), they will eventually receive profound, high-level support ("great happiness from one's ancestress"—representing an unexpected, maternal, or foundational blessing).
- Stage: Moving forward while feeling unsupported or anxious
- Action: Push through the emotional resistance; do not give up because it feels lonely
- Wisdom: Good fortune — deep, structural support will arrive if you stay the course
Line 3 — Six in the Third Place: Shared Trust
All are in accord. Remorse disappears.
The third line is a turning point. The individual efforts of the first two lines have paid off, and now there is collective momentum. The person is no longer advancing alone; they have the support of their peers and the trust of those around them. When a group moves forward in unified agreement ("all are in accord"), any previous mistakes, hesitations, or regrets (remorse) vanish. The progress is now a shared, unstoppable movement.
- Stage: Individual effort transforms into collective momentum
- Action: Move forward together with your allies; trust the group dynamic
- Wisdom: Remorse disappears — unity of purpose eliminates self-doubt
Line 4 — Nine in the Fourth Place: The Rodent's Progress
Progress like a hamster. Perseverance brings danger.
The fourth line introduces the first real danger in Jin. The person has reached a high position, close to the ruler (Line 5), but they did not get there through "outstanding virtue." They advanced through hoarding, scheming, or playing political games—acting like a rodent scurrying in the shadows, rather than the sun shining openly. In a hexagram defined by bright, exposing light, secretive or hoarding behavior is fatal. If they persist in this sneaky, self-serving advancement, they will be exposed and destroyed.
- Stage: Advancement through manipulation or hoarding
- Action: Stop operating in the shadows immediately; transparency is mandatory
- Wisdom: Danger — the sunrise will expose all rodent-like behavior
Line 5 — Six in the Fifth Place: The Radiant Ruler
Remorse disappears. Take not gain and loss to heart. Undertakings bring good fortune. Everything serves to further.
The fifth line, the ruler's position, describes the perfect embodiment of Progress. This person has reached the top, but they do not act like a tyrant. The key to their supreme success is an attitude of total detachment: "Take not gain and loss to heart." Because their focus is on the light itself (the mission, the virtue, the greater good) rather than their personal scorecard of wins and losses, they are fearless. This pure, unselfish, radiant energy guarantees that whatever they undertake will succeed.
- Stage: Supreme, detached leadership and unhindered progress
- Action: Focus entirely on the work; ignore the scoreboard of personal gains and losses
- Wisdom: Good fortune — emotional detachment at the top allows for flawless execution
Line 6 — Nine at the Top: Punishing the Rebellious City
Making progress with the horns is permissible only for the purpose of punishing one’s own city. To be conscious of danger brings good fortune. No blame. Perseverance brings humiliation.
The top line represents progress pushed to its absolute limit. The sun is at high noon and burning fiercely. The person here uses aggressive, forceful power ("with the horns") to smash through a final obstacle. The I Ching says this aggression is only permissible if it is used internally—to punish "one's own city" (cleaning up your own organization, fixing your own bad habits). You cannot use this aggressive force to conquer others. Even when cleaning your own house, you must be hyper-aware of the danger of using force. And most importantly: do not make a habit of it. If you persevere in being aggressive, it will end in humiliation.
- Stage: The aggressive, forceful removal of final internal obstacles
- Action: Use force only to clean up your own house, never to attack others; stop immediately once it is done
- Wisdom: No blame, but humiliation if prolonged — force is a temporary tool, not a strategy
The Complete Journey: A Summary
- Line 1: Hesitant starts and lack of trust; remain calm and patient.
- Line 2: Pushing forward through loneliness and anxiety; deep support will come.
- Line 3: Achieving consensus and group momentum; all doubts vanish.
- Line 4: Scheming and hoarding like a rodent; the light will expose and destroy this.
- Line 5: Radiant, detached leadership; ignoring gain and loss guarantees success.
- Line 6: Aggressive internal clean-up; permissible only briefly and carefully.
What Is Next in This Series
- Part 1: The Symbol and Structure
- Part 2 (This Article): The Six Lines — Complete Line-by-Line Commentary
- Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Jin in Practice
- Part 4: Philosophy — Progress in Confucian, Taoist, and Epistemological Thought
- Part 5: Practical Applications — Career Advancement, Bold Expansion, Managing Success
- Part 6: Modern Interpretations — Visibility, Scaling, Growth, Network Expansion
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