Why does the text say “a noble man uses his comb as an ornament”? In ancient times, people often inserted a comb into the arranged hair as a decorative ornament — the final step of the hair-combing process. In Transformed L5, the hexagram becomes doubled Kun: Kun represents the original color, multitude, and blackness, symbolizing plain and unadorned hair. Hidden L5 is doubled Qian: Qian represents the head, gold and jade, display, and successful completion, giving the image of ornaments being worn on the head. The combing is complete; the fine-tooth comb has become a piece of adornment.

In the statement, the word “comb” carries a double meaning: it refers both to the ruler’s method of scrutinizing the people and to the scrutiny side’s examination of the ruler. “Comb as an ornament” therefore refers both to the king’s method of overseeing the common people and to the fact that the scrutiny side appears to have discovered a flaw in the king’s conduct — yet this very flaw turns out to be an expression of his virtue. The act of scrutiny does not diminish the king; it manifests his brilliance. Just as a fine-tooth comb inserted into a hair bun becomes a new ornament, so the king’s apparent lapse becomes the emblem of his wisdom.

Why does the text say “the king leaves a way out for the trapped prey”? In ancient times, a truly virtuous ruler would not surround the hunting ground on all sides and kill everything within it. Instead, he would enclose only three sides and leave one side open so that animals still had a chance to escape. This practice expressed his benevolence and humanity.

In the Original Hexagram, the lower Kun trigram represents fields — the hunting ground. The Gen trigram formed by lines three, four, and five represents boundaries and confinement. Gen is stacked with the Kan trigram formed by lines four, five, and six; Kan represents crisis and harm, showing that the hunting boundary brings harm to the trapped animals. In Transformed L5, however, both Gen and Kan change into Kun. Since Kun means emptiness and nonexistence, this shows that the boundary is removed and no longer exists — one side of the net is opened. At the same time, Kun also means no accomplishment: since Transformed L5 is entirely Kun, the hunt gains no catch. In the Hidden Hexagram, the upper trigram changes from Li into Qian; Li represents birds and animals, while Qian represents survival. The otherwise-trapped prey survive.

What does this action symbolize in the governing domain? Leaving one side open means that the Gen-side energy, which is also reverse-Zhen energy, no longer operates against the Zhen side. Kan originally represented the harm brought by the Gen side to the Zhen side; its transformation into Kun indicates that this harm disappears. The Qian side lets the Zhen side go and no longer carries out scrutiny against it.

Why does the text say “his folks make no protest”? The Original Hexagram changes into doubled Kun. Kun represents compliance and also the common people, indicating that the people submit to the king. The original Kan-Gen image formed by lines four through six, which symbolized scrutiny, disappears — showing that the Gen side does not scrutinize the king’s action. In the original Hidden Hexagram, the upper Li trigram represents eyes and overseeing, while the Dui trigram formed by lines three, four, and five represents the mouth, words, and speech. Together they suggest observing faults and offering admonition. When the fifth line moves, both the Li eyes and the Dui mouth disappear, showing that the masses look on as if they do not see, and remain silent. The Hidden Hexagram changes into doubled Qian, showing that this action accords with the way of Qian. On the surface it may seem the king has lost his prey, but in fact this is an expression of his benevolence — and the masses’ silence is their endorsement.

This case contains two overlapping layers of scrutiny. The first layer is that the king’s scrutiny of the Zhen side disappears; the second is that the people’s scrutiny of the king also disappears. The fact that the common people do not admonish shows that the Kun side remains compliant and no longer produces harmful elements. The highest form of scrutiny is precisely the state in which scrutiny is no longer needed — this is true for the king, and it is equally true for the people.

Why is the outcome “auspicious”? The king’s action achieves three gains at once. First, it expresses the benevolence of the Qian side. Second, it makes the Kun side fully compliant, so that harmful elements no longer appear. Third, it causes the Kan, Li, and Gen trigrams to disappear from the hexagram image simultaneously: Gen changes into Kun, Kun means service rendered and cessation, showing that the scrutiny officials withdraw and have no further role. The state no longer needs to spend great resources maintaining the scrutiny mechanism. The Hidden Hexagram changes into doubled Qian, showing that national strength is abundant. By eliminating the scrutiny system, the king strengthens the state. This is the act of a wise ruler, and therefore the text says “auspicious.”