Hexagram 62 · 雷山小过

Small Exceeding

Wood · Dui palace

Modest excess; attend to small matters, not large ambition.

Meaning

Thunder on the mountain: sound above stillness, dramatic in appearance but limited in reach. Small Exceeding describes a situation that calls for small, careful measures.

Decision Framework

Do the small, careful thing; do not aim high.

Decision Guidance

Small Exceeding is the reading of the modest, well-judged excess. It appears when the situation will tolerate a little more than usual—a slightly greater care, a slightly firmer correction—but nothing of real scale.

The classical text is direct about the limits: it is suitable for small matters and unsuitable for large ones. Ambition that outgrows the moment will fail here. Attend closely to details, correct small errors properly, and keep expectations proportionate. The hexagram also favours thoroughness over audacity, particularly in matters of presentation and small commitments.

Judgment — Classical Text

亨，利贞。可小事，不可大事。飞鸟遗之音，不宜上宜下。

EN Success, perseverance furthers. Small matters may be done, great matters may not. The flying bird leaves its call — better to descend than to rise. Great good fortune.

The Six Lines — Classical Text

初六：飞鸟以凶。
EN Initial six: the flying bird — misfortune.
六二：过其祖，遇其妣，不及其君。
EN Six in the second: passing the grandfather, meeting the grandmother, not reaching the prince — meeting the servant: no blame.
九三：弗过防之，从或戕之。
EN Nine in the third: if you do not guard against excess, someone may follow and harm you — misfortune.
九四：无咎，弗过遇之，往厉必戒。
EN Nine in the fourth: no blame — not exceeding, you meet it; going brings danger, you must be on guard: do not act; perseverance in waiting.
六五：密云不雨，自我西郊。
EN Six in the fifth: dense clouds, no rain, from my western fields — the lord shoots and takes it in the cave.
上六：弗遇过之，飞鸟离之。
EN Topmost six: not meeting, exceeding — the flying bird is caught: misfortune — this is called calamity and disaster.

Keywords

I Ching hexagram 62, Small Exceeding hexagram, Xiao Guo hexagram meaning, hexagram for small matters