Flying line (Fei Shen)

The line standing for the Target line is called the Hidden line, and the line at the same position as the Hidden line in the primary hexagram is called the Flying line. The Hidden line is then acted on by the Flying line, but not absolutely.

Why is the action called not absolute?

The action of a moving line on a line of the hexagram is called absolute action, because it is action between equals: to control something away, one must be of equal rank. In the Flying–Hidden relation, however, if the Flying line controls the Target line, then where the Target line and the Flying line are both Prosperous, the Flying line can only hold the Target line down and cannot control the Target line away; at the moment the Flying line is clashed away, the Target line becomes usable. That is the difference between a Hidden line held down by a Flying line and a Target line controlled by a moving line.

Cases where the Flying line cannot act on the Hidden line

In the following cases the Flying line, even when present, cannot act on or hold down the Hidden line:

• The Flying line is Resting and controlled
• The Flying line is in the Tomb
• The Flying line is Weak and at Extinction
• The Flying line moves and changes into control; the changed line then both controls the Flying line and acts on the Hidden line
• The Flying line is Void
• The Flying line is in Month Break
• The Flying line is clashed by the Day: even in Hidden movement the Flying line is still lost, and it is then read simply as a hexagram with a line in Hidden movement, the Hidden line having appeared
• The changed line clashes the Flying line.

In short, for the Flying line to act on the Hidden line, the Flying line must exist: by nature it must be Resting or above, and as to state it must not be Void, nor change into Void, nor be in Month Break, nor change into Month Break, nor be Resting and change into Extinction, nor be in the Tomb, nor change into control, nor be caught in the Three Punishments, nor be Resting and punished.

The Hidden line is acted on in its nature — being generated, controlled or drained — and in its state — Birth, Tomb, Extinction, combination, punishment — by the Flying line.

In every case, note that as long as the Flying line exists, a Void Hidden line that is not clashed by the Day certainly means the matter is spoilt.

The Flying line in Hidden movement

And if the Flying line is in Hidden movement, the Hidden line appears at once, since the Flying line has been clashed by the Day; but this Flying line in Hidden movement still acts on the Hidden line as an ordinary moving line, and not on the Hidden line with the character of a Flying line.

Example: on a Shen day, in the Mao month:

Breakthrough (Guai) Earth (Kun) Palace · Earth

Siblings	Wei Earth
Offspring	You Metal	Self
Wealth	Hai Water
Siblings	Chen Earth
Officer line	Yin Wood	Resp.
Wealth	Zi Water

If we take Parents as the Target line, then in this hexagram Parents at Si Fire is hidden under the Officer line at Yin Wood, and the Flying line is clashed by the Day, so the Hidden line comes out. The Hidden line is then not referred to the Flying line as to state — here, punishment — but the Three Punishments are still complete, because this Officer Flying line is not lost but in Hidden movement; this line in Hidden movement, together with the Day, punishes the Parents line at Si Fire, so that Parents at Si Fire, although of Excessive strength through being generated by a moving line and by the Month and combined by the Day, is spoilt all the same.

See also

• Hidden line
• Hidden movement, Three Punishments (San Xing)
• Void, Month Break
• Opposing line — the Opposing line as the Flying line