Hexagram 62 · Preponderance of the Small

小过 · Xiǎo Guò

Hexagram 62, Preponderance of the Small (小过, Xiǎo Guò), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Mountain below and Thunder above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “亨，利贞；可小事，不可大事；飞鸟遗之音，不宜上，宜下，大吉。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with small excess — exceptional care in small matters. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Mountain (艮) — stillness and knowing when to stop
Upper trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Symbol: ䷽ · Name: 小过 (Xiǎo Guò) · Number: 62 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   飞鸟以凶。
   The Image says: “飞鸟以凶”，不可如何也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   过其祖，遇其妣；不及其君，遇其臣，无咎。
   The Image says: “不及其君”，臣不可过也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   弗过防之，从或戕之，凶。
   The Image says: “从或戕之”，凶如何也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   无咎，弗过遇之；往厉必戒，勿用永贞。
   The Image says: “弗过遇之”，位不当也；“往厉必戒”，终不可长也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   密云不雨，自我西郊；公弋取彼在穴。
   The Image says: “密云不雨”，已上也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   弗遇过之；飞鸟离之，凶，是谓灾眚。
   The Image says: “弗遇过之”，已亢也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 62?

Hexagram 62 is Preponderance of the Small (小过, Xiǎo Guò), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Mountain below and Thunder above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Preponderance of the Small?

The judgment of Preponderance of the Small reads, in the Chinese original: “亨，利贞；可小事，不可大事；飞鸟遗之音，不宜上，宜下，大吉。”. Its Great Image reads: “山上有雷，小过。君子以行过乎恭，丧过乎哀，用过乎俭。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Preponderance of the Small symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Preponderance of the Small is associated with small excess — exceptional care in small matters. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.