62. Preponderance of the Small

Judgment

小过：亨，利贞。可小事，不可大事。飞鸟遗之音，不宜上，宜下，大吉。

Success. Perseverance furthers. Small things may be done; great things should not be done. The flying bird brings the message: it is not well to strive upward, it is well to remain below. Great good fortune. Stay modest and practical; take a little extra care over details.

Image

山上有雷，小过；君子以行过乎恭，丧过乎哀，用过乎俭。

Thunder on the mountain: the image of preponderance of the small. In conduct the noble person gives preponderance to reverence; in bereavement, to grief; in expenditure, to thrift.

Lines

1. Line 1, yin (six)

   初六：飞鸟以凶。

   The bird meets with misfortune through flying. Pushing ahead regardless of timing.

2. Line 2, yin (six)

   六二：过其祖，遇其妣；不及其君，遇其臣；无咎。

   She passes by her ancestor and meets her ancestress. He does not reach his prince and meets the official. No blame. Go through the appropriate intermediate channel, not over heads.

3. Line 3, yang (nine)

   九三：弗过防之，从或戕之，凶。

   If one is not extremely careful, somebody may come up from behind and strike him. Misfortune. In such times, strengthen precautions.

4. Line 4, yang (nine)

   九四：无咎，弗过遇之。往厉必戒，勿用永贞。

   No blame. He meets him without passing by. Going brings danger. One must be on guard. Do not act. Be constantly persevering. Respond flexibly; don't cling to routine.

5. Line 5, yin (six)

   六五：密云不雨，自我西郊；公弋取彼在穴。

   Dense clouds, no rain from our western territory. The prince shoots and hits him who is in the cave. Use specialised tools and people to obtain concrete results.

6. Line 6, yin (six)

   上六：弗遇过之，飞鸟离之，凶，是谓灾眚。

   He passes him by, not meeting him. The flying bird leaves him. Misfortune. This means bad luck and injury. Serious overstepping; loss of control.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of detail, prudence and small fast steps: operational excellence, quality control, pilots, low-profile expansion, careful management in crisis. 'Small things may be done, not great ones': a time for optimisation and pilots, not big bets.

Psychological lens

Resonates with prevention focus in regulatory focus theory (Higgins); line 1 describes overconfidence-driven premature expansion.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Should we bet on a question-mark business? Enterprise, Judgment
• Zero defects vs. tolerance for error Enterprise, Line 3, yang (nine)
• Scope creep Enterprise, Line 6, yin (six)
• Working through intermediaries (face) Enterprise, Line 2, yin (six)
• Compliance vs. speed of business Enterprise, Line 4, yang (nine)
• Contract loopholes being exploited Enterprise, Line 3, yang (nine)
• Side project or full-time? Individuals, Judgment
• Grieving a loved one Individuals, Judgment
• Fear of missing out Individuals, Line 1, yin (six)
• Guaranteeing someone else's debt Individuals, Line 3, yang (nine)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.