Hexagram 39 of 64 · King Wen order
蹇Obstruction
Jiǎn · ䷦ · above: Water ☵ 坎 Kǎn · below: Mountain ☶ 艮 Gèn
Facing external difficulties that cannot be overcome by force; the best course is to seek help or wait.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
利西南，不利東北；利見大人，貞吉。
In (the state indicated by) Kien advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man. (In these circumstances), with firmness and correctness, 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. Kien denotes difficulty. There is (the trigram expressive of) perilousness in front. When one, seeing the peril, can arrest his steps (in accordance with the significance of the lower trigram), is he not wise?
2. (The language of) Kien, that 'advantage will be found in the south-west,' refers to the (strong fifth line) advanced and in the central place. That 'there will be no advantage in the north-east,' intimates that the way (of dealing with the Kien state) is exhausted. That 'it will be advantageous to see the great man,' intimates that advance will lead to achievement. That the places (of the different lines after the first) are those appropriate to them indicates firm correctness and good fortune, with which the regions (of the kingdom) are brought to their normal state. Great indeed is the work to be done in the time of Kien!
The Image 象
山上有水，蹇；君子以反身修德。
(The trigram representing) a mountain, and above it that for water, form Kien. The superior man, in accordance with this, turns round (and examines) himself, and cultivates his virtue.
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)
往蹇，來譽。
From the first SIX, divided, we learn that advance (on the part of its subject) will lead to (greater) difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise.
Small Image: 'Advancing will conduct to (greater) difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise:'—the proper course is to wait.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 63, After Completion.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故。
The second SIX, divided, shows the minister of the king struggling with difficulty on difficulty, and not with a view to his own advantage.
Small Image: 'The minister of the king struggles with difficulty on difficulty:'—in the end no blame will be attached to him.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 48, The Well.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
往蹇來反。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and returns (to his former associates).
Small Image: 'He advances, (but only) to (greater) difficulty; he remains stationary, and returns to his former associates:'—they, (represented in) the inner (trigram), rejoice in him.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 8, Holding Together.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
往蹇來連。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and unites (with the subject of the line above).
Small Image: 'To advance will (only be to) encounter (greater) difficulties; he remains stationary, and unites (with the subject of the line above):'—that is in its proper place and has the solidity (due to it in that position).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 31, Influence.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
大蹇朋來。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject struggling with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming to help him.
Small Image: 'He struggles with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming (to help him):'—he is in the central position, and possesses the requisite virtue.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 15, Modesty.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
往蹇來碩，吉；利見大人。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject going forward, (only to increase) the difficulties, while his remaining stationary will be (productive of) great (merit). There will be good fortune, and it will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
Small Image: 'To advance will (only) increase the difficulties, while his remaining stationary will (be productive of) great (merit):'—his aim is to assist the (subject of the line) inside of him. 'It will be advantageous to meet the great man:'—by his course he follows that noble (lord of the figure).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 53, Development.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦38. Opposition 睽
every line changedInverse 綜卦40. Deliverance 解
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.