Hexagram 62
Small Exceeding - Small Surpassing
小过
Meaning and Overview
The Small Exceeding hexagram has the upper trigram of Zhen, representing thunder, and the lower trigram of Gen, representing mountain, forming the image of thunder over mountain, signifying small surpassing. This hexagram is the complete opposite of the Inner Truth hexagram: in Small Exceeding, the two central lines are yang, while the four outer lines are yin.
Chinese Interpretation
《小过》卦上卦是震，为雷，下卦是艮，为山，卦象为雷山小过。《小过》卦与《中孚》卦完全相反，《小过》卦中间两爻是阳爻，其余外面四爻是阴爻。
Line Interpretations
These passages include the core hexagram statement, the six moving line texts, and traditional commentary where available. Read them as layered guidance: the early lines describe the root of the situation, while later lines reveal development, pressure, and outcome.
亨，利贞。可小事，不可大事。
亨通，利于坚守正道。可以干小事情，不适宜干大事。
Success. Favorable to be steadfast. Small matters may be undertaken; great matters should not be undertaken.
Success. It is favorable to hold firmly to what is right. Small matters may be done; great matters are not suitable.
飞鸟遗之音，不宜上，宜下，大吉。
飞鸟飞过后，留下鸣叫声，飞鸟不宜继续往上飞，适宜往下飞，寻找安栖之所，大为吉祥。
A flying bird leaves its call behind. It should not ascend; it should descend. Great good fortune.
After a bird flies past, its song lingers. The bird should not continue to fly upward; it is fitting to fly downward, seeking a place to rest. Great good fortune.
初六，飞鸟以凶。
初六爻，飞鸟遭遇到了凶险。
The first six, divided: A flying bird brings misfortune.
The first six line: The flying bird encounters danger.
六二，过其祖，遇其妣；不及其君，遇其臣，无咎。
六二爻，祖父的丧礼有过分，祖母的丧礼合乎礼制规定，臣下不能越君主的礼制，臣下应该严守臣子的礼节，不会有过错。
The second six, divided: Passing by the grandfather, meeting the grandmother; not reaching the ruler, meeting the minister. No blame.
The second six line: The grandfather's funeral rites are excessive, the grandmother's rites are proper; the subject does not overstep the ruler's rites, but strictly observes the subject's duties. No fault.
九三，弗过防之，从或戕之，凶。
九三爻，没有过分，没有失礼，应谨防小人，如果放任小人，有可能遭到伤害，凶险。
The third nine, undivided: Not exceeding, but guarding against it. If one follows, he may be harmed. Misfortune.
The third nine line: Not excessive, not improper, but one must be wary of petty people. If one indulges them, harm may come. Misfortune.
九四，无咎，弗过遇之；往厉必戒，勿用永贞。
九四爻，没有过错，没有过分，没有失礼，遇上了支持者；往前行十分危险，一定要谨慎小心，不要长久坚持。
The fourth nine, undivided: No blame. Not exceeding, but meeting it. Going forward brings danger; one must be cautious. Do not use this for enduring perseverance.
The fourth nine line: No fault, no excess, no impropriety; one meets a supporter. But going forward is very dangerous; one must be cautious and not persist for long.
六五，密云不雨，自我西郊；公弋取彼在穴。
六五爻，乌云密布，没有下雨，来自我西郊；公侯用绳箭射取穴中的猎物。
The fifth six, divided: Dense clouds, no rain, from our western border. The duke shoots and takes the game in the cave.
The fifth six line: Dark clouds gather but no rain comes, from our western border. The duke uses a corded arrow to shoot and capture prey in its lair.
上六，弗遇过之，飞鸟离之，凶，是谓灾眚。
上六爻，没有遇上支持者，反而过分强求，飞鸟遭到网罗，凶险，这叫做灾祸。
The top six, divided: Not meeting, but exceeding it. The flying bird is caught. Misfortune. This is called calamity and disaster.
The top six line: Not meeting a supporter, but overreaching. The flying bird is caught in a net. Misfortune. This is called calamity and disaster.