Why does the text say “inner combing”? In the I Ching, Li and Kan are opposing trigrams: Li represents eyes, seeing, and the surface layer, while Kan represents what is hidden and internal. In Transformed L2, the lower trigram Kan means the interior and splitting. Above it, lines three through six form a stacked Kan-Gen image: Kan represents crisis, the fine-tooth comb, and the act of “Bi,” while Gen represents the hand. Together, this gives the image of combing from the inner part of the hair — the specialist works not merely on the surface but plunges the comb deeply into the hair to reach the scalp.

In Transformed L2, two Kan trigrams appear simultaneously. The upper Kan is stacked with the Gen trigram formed by lines three, four, and five, suggesting the Gen side combs downward; the lower Kan is stacked with the reverse-Gen image formed by lines two, three, and four, suggesting the Gen side combs upward. The overall picture is of hair being divided into sections and repeatedly combed back and forth, searching out what lies beneath. In Hidden L2, the image changes into doubled Li. Since Li represents interlacing, orderly arrangement, and pleasing appearance, this shows that the different sections of hair are finally arranged in order and that the purpose of the fine-tooth combing has been achieved.

Why does the text say “auspicious for the diviner” rather than simply “auspicious”? In Transformed L2, the Zhen trigram formed by lines two, three, and four can be understood as a reversed Gen trigram. Together with the Gen trigram formed by lines three, four, and five, it shows the Gen side combing back and forth. Two Gen-like images appear, indicating that the energy of the Gen side is strengthened. Similarly, in Hidden L2, the double Li image shows that the Li-side scrutiny energy is likewise doubled — two sets of scrutiny mechanisms have been established. Taken together, the hexagram change greatly strengthens the focal-player energy, and therefore it is auspicious for the person carrying out the combing.

But the text says only “auspicious for the diviner,” not simply “auspicious.” This distinction matters. When the text says simply “auspicious,” as in the opening statement and the first line, the image is favorable for both the primary focal player and the secondary focal player, the Qian side. Here the wording is “auspicious for the diviner,” meaning that the image is auspicious for the Gen-side focal player, but not necessarily auspicious for the Qian side. Why not? The lower trigram of the Hidden Hexagram changes from Qian into Li. Li is the scrutiny energy, showing that the Qian side transfers its energy to the primary focal player to support the combing action — yet Li is hollow in the middle, carrying an image of weakness. Too many scrutiny institutions may hollow out the group’s strength. The Qian side’s energy is weakened by the very combing and scrutinizing action it sponsors.

The second line follows directly from the first. In the first line, the focal player obtains the object that needs scrutinizing; in the second line, the actual work begins. The Qian side invests heavily and establishes doubled scrutiny mechanisms. However, in Hidden L2, a Dui-Xun image appears between the two Li trigrams from lines two through five. Dui means words, while Xun means interest and gain. This Dui-Xun structure suggests disputes over interest and verbal conflict — the two scrutiny mechanisms are already beginning to chafe against each other. This seeds the ground for the formal conflict between rival hair-combing specialists in the third line.