The Yî King · James Legge
Judgment
(What takes place as indicated by) Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. (In that case) occasion for repentance will disappear.
1882 scan · p. 167Line 1 · Nine, undivided
The first line, undivided, shows its subject (as if he were) bound with the skin of a yellow ox.
1882 scan · p. 167Line 2 · Six, divided
The second line, divided, shows its subject making his changes after some time has passed. Action taken will be fortunate. There will be no error.
1882 scan · p. 168Line 3 · Nine, undivided
The third line, undivided, shows that action taken by its subject will be evil. Though he be firm and correct, his position is perilous. If the change (he contemplates) have been three times fully discussed, he will be believed in.
1882 scan · p. 168Line 4 · Nine, undivided
The fourth line, undivided, shows occasion for repentance disappearing (from its subject). Let him be believed in; and though he change (existing) ordinances, there will be good fortune.
1882 scan · p. 168Line 5 · Nine, undivided
The fifth line, undivided, shows the great man (producing his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes). Before he divines (and proceeds to action), faith has been reposed in him.
1882 scan · p. 168Line 6 · Six, divided
The sixth line, divided, shows the superior man producing his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience). To go forward (now) would lead to evil, but there will be good fortune in abiding firm and correct.
1882 scan · p. 168James Legge · The Yî King (1882), Princeton scan. All 450 selected passages were independently image-read and compared by AI; unresolved print details remain. Not human or expert collation. Source and data ↗