Hexagram 3 of 64 · King Wen order
屯Difficulty at the Beginning
Zhūn · ䷂ · above: Water ☵ 坎 Kǎn · below: Thunder ☳ 震 Zhèn
It describes the state of new life or a new project where growth is potential but movement is hampered by obstacles.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
元，亨，利，貞，勿用，有攸往，利建侯。
Kun (indicates that in the case which it presupposes) there will be great progress and success, and the advantage will come from being correct and firm. (But) any movement in advance should not be (lightly) undertaken. There will be advantage in appointing feudal princes.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. In Kun we have the strong (Khien) and the weak (Khwan) commencing their intercourse, and difficulties arising.
2. Movement in the midst of peril gives rise to 'great progress and success, (through) firm correctness.'
3. By the action of the thunder and rain, (which are symbols of Kan and Khan), all (between heaven and earth) is filled up. But the condition of the time is full of irregularity and obscurity. Feudal princes should be established, but the feeling that rest and peace have been secured should not be indulged (even then).
The Image 象
雲，雷，屯；君子以經綸。
(The trigram representing) clouds and (that representing) thunder form Kun. The superior man, in accordance with this, (adjusts his measures of government) as in sorting the threads of the warp and woof.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初九
The first line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
磐桓；利居貞，利建侯。
The first NINE, undivided, shows the difficulty (its subject has) in advancing. It will be advantageous for him to abide correct and firm; advantageous (also) to be made a feudal ruler.
Small Image: Although 'there is a difficulty in advancing,' the mind (of the subject of the line) is set on doing what is correct. While noble, he humbles himself to the mean, and grandly gains the people.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 8, Holding Together.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
屯如邅如，乘馬班如。匪寇婚媾，女子貞不字，十年乃字。
The second SIX, divided, shows (its subject) distressed and obliged to return; (even) the horses of her chariot (also) seem to be retreating. (But) not by a spoiler (is she assailed), but by one who seeks her to be his wife. The young lady maintains her firm correctness, and declines a union. After ten years she will be united, and have children.
Small Image: The difficulty (to the subject of) the second six, (divided), arises from, its place over the undivided line below it. 'The union and children after ten years' shows things resuming their regular course.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 60, Limitation.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
既鹿無虞，惟入于林中，君子幾不如舍，往吝。
The third SIX, divided, shows one following the deer without (the guidance of) the forester, and only finding himself in the midst of the forest. The superior man, acquainted with the secret risks, thinks it better to give up the chase. If he went forward, he would regret it.
Small Image: 'One pursues the deer without the (guidance of the) forester:'—(he does so) in (his eagerness to) follow the game. 'The superior man gives up the chase, (knowing that) if he go forward he will regret it:'—he would be reduced to extremity.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 63, After Completion.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
乘馬班如，求婚媾，往吉，無不利。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows (its subject as a lady), the horses of whose chariot appear in retreat. She seeks, however, (the help of) him who seeks her to be his wife. Advance will be fortunate; all will turn out advantageously.
Small Image: 'Going forward after such a search (for a helper)' shows intelligence.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 17, Following.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
屯其膏，小貞吉，大貞凶。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows the difficulties in the way of (its subject's) dispensing the rich favours that might be expected from him. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune in small things; (even) with them in great things there will be evil.
Small Image: 'Difficulty is experienced (by the subject of the fifth line) in bestowing his rich favours:'—the extent to which they reach will not yet be conspicuous.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 24, Return.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
乘馬班如，泣血漣如。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows (its subject) with the horses of his chariot obliged to retreat, and weeping tears of blood in streams.
Small Image: 'He weeps tears of blood in streams:'—how can the state (thus emblemed) continue long?
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 42, Increase.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦50. The Caldron 鼎
every line changedInverse 綜卦4. Youthful Folly 蒙
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.