Hexagram 57 of 64 · King Wen order
巽The Gentle
Xùn · ䷸ · above: Wind ☴ 巽 Xùn · below: Wind ☴ 巽 Xùn
Influence exerted through persistence and gentleness, like wind shaping the landscape over time.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
小亨，利攸往，利見大人。
Sun intimates that (under the conditions which it denotes) there will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement onward in whatever direction. It will be advantageous (also) to see the great man.
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. The double Sun shows how, in accordance with it, (governmental) orders are reiterated.
2. (We see that) the strong (fifth line) has penetrated into the central and correct place, and the will (of its subject) is being carried into effect; (we see also) the weak (first and fourth lines) both obedient to the strong lines (above them). It is hence said, 'There will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement onward in whatever direction. It will be advantageous also to see the great man.'
The Image 象
隨風，巽；君子以申命行事。
(Two trigrams representing) wind, following each other, form Sun. The superior man, in accordance with this, reiterates his orders, and secures the practice of his affairs.
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)
進退，利武人之貞。
The first SIX, divided, shows its subject (now) advancing, (now) receding. It would be advantageous for him to have the firm correctness of a brave soldier.
Small Image: '(Now) he advances, (now) he recedes:'—his mind is perplexed. It would be advantageous for him to have the firmness of a brave soldier:'—his mind would in that case be well governed.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 9, The Taming Power of the Small.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
巽在床下，用史巫紛若，吉無咎。
The second NINE, undivided, shows the representative of Sun beneath a couch, and employing diviners and exorcists in a way bordering on confusion. There will be good fortune and no error.
Small Image: 'The good fortune springing from what borders on confusion' is due to the position (of the line) in the centre.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 53, Development.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
頻巽，吝。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject penetrating (only) by violent and repeated efforts. There will be occasion for regret.
Small Image: 'The regret arising from the violent and repeated efforts to penetrate' shows the exhaustion of the will.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 59, Dispersion.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
悔亡，田獲三品。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows all occasion for repentance (in its subject) passed away. He takes game for its threefold use in his hunting.
Small Image: 'He takes game in his hunting, enough for the threefold use of it:'—he achieves merit.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 44, Coming to Meet.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
貞吉悔亡，無不利。無初有終，先庚三日，後庚三日，吉。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune (to its subject). All occasion for repentance will disappear, and all his movements will be advantageous. There may have been no (good) beginning, but there will be a (good) end. Three days before making any changes, (let him give notice of them); and three days after, (let him reconsider them). There will (thus) be good fortune.
Small Image: 'The good fortune of (the subject of) the fifth NINE, undivided,' is owing to its correct position and its being in the centre.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 18, Work on what has been spoiled.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
巽在床下，喪其資斧，貞凶。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows the representative of penetration beneath a couch, and having lost the axe with which he executed his decisions. However firm and correct he may (try to) be, there will be evil.
Small Image: 'The representative of penetration is beneath a couch:'—though occupying the topmost place, his powers are exhausted. 'He has lost the axe with which he executed his decisions:'—though he try to be correct, there will be evil.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 48, The Well.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦51. The Arousing 震
every line changedInverse 綜卦58. The Joyous, Lake 兌
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.