Hexagram 31 of 64 · King Wen order
咸Influence
Xián · ䷞ · above: Lake ☱ 兌 Duì · below: Mountain ☶ 艮 Gèn
The power of attraction and mutual influence between the strong and the weak, or the masculine and feminine.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
亨，利貞，取女吉。
Hsien indicates that, (on the fulfilment of the conditions implied in it), there will be free course and success. Its advantageousness will depend on the being firm and correct, (as) in marrying a young lady. There will be good fortune.
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. Hsien is here used in the sense of Kan, meaning (mutually) influencing.
2. The weak (trigram) above, and the strong one below; their two influences moving and responding to each other, and thereby forming a union; the repression (of the one) and the satisfaction (of the other); (with their relative position), where the male is placed below the female:—all these things convey the notion of 'a free and successful course (on the fulfilment of the conditions), while the advantage will depend on being firm and correct, as in marrying a young lady, and there will be good fortune.'
3. Heaven and earth exert their influences, and there ensue the transformation and production of all things. The sages influence the minds of men, and the result is harmony and peace all under the sky. If we look at (the method and issues) of those influences, the true character of heaven and earth and of all things can be seen.
The Image 象
山上有澤，咸；君子以虛受人。
(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for (the waters of) a marsh form Hsien. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps his mind free from pre-occupation, and open to receive (the influences of) others.
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 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
咸其拇。
The first SIX, divided, shows one moving his great toes.
Small Image: 'He moves his great toe:'—his mind is set on what is beyond (himself).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 49, Revolution.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
咸其腓，凶，居吉。
The second SIX, divided, shows one moving the calves of his leg. There will be evil. If he abide (quiet in his place), there will be good fortune.
Small Image: Though 'there would be evil; yet, if he abide (quiet) in his place, there will be good fortune:'—through compliance (with the circumstances of his condition and place) there will be no injury.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 28, Preponderance of the Great.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
咸其股，執其隨，往吝。
The third NINE, undivided, shows one moving his thighs, and keeping close hold of those whom he follows. Going forward (in this way) will cause regret.
Small Image: 'He moves his thighs:'—he still does not (want to) rest in his place. His will is set on 'following others:'—what he holds in his grasp is low.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 45, Gathering Together.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
貞吉悔亡，憧憧往來，朋從爾思。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows that firm correctness which will lead to good fortune, and prevent all occasion for repentance. If its subject be unsettled in his movements, only his friends will follow his purpose.
Small Image: 'Firm correctness will lead to good fortune, and prevent all occasion for repentance:'—there has not yet been any harm from (a selfish wish to) influence. 'He is unsettled in his movements:'(his power to influence) is not yet either brilliant or great.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 39, Obstruction.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
咸其脢，無悔。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows one moving the flesh along the spine above the heart. There will be no occasion for repentance.
Small Image: 'He (tries to) move the flesh along the spine above the heart:'—his aim is trivial.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 62, Preponderance of the Small.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
咸其輔，頰，舌。
The sixth SIX, divided, shows one moving his jaws and tongue.
Small Image: 'He moves his jaws and tongue:'—he (only) talks with loquacious mouth.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 33, Retreat.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦41. Decrease 損
every line changedInverse 綜卦32. Duration 恆
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.