Hexagram 3, Zhūn (Difficulty at the Beginning): Line 4

屯卦六四 · 水雷屯 · 中文版

六四:乘马班如,求婚媾,往吉,无不利。

The line (Legge)

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 commentary

'Going forward after such a search (for a helper)' shows intelligence.

象曰:求而往,明也。

In plain words

The horse and rider go round and round; going to seek a match brings good fortune, and nothing fails. The fourth line corresponds to the first. Not strong enough alone, it goes to ask the able first line for help, and so things can be done. The Small Image says that going out to seek is clear-sighted.

Applying it to your situation

If you cannot move something forward on your own, this line suggests setting pride aside and going to the people who can help. Who have you still not asked?

Position

A broken (yin) line in the fourth place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is in its proper place. Its partner is line 1; one is yin and the other yang, so they respond to each other.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Zhūn changes into Hexagram 17 Suí (Following). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·屯之随.

A recorded case from Takashima

Zhun to Sui: one of Ōkura's men asks about his prospects: An employee of Ōkura Kihachirō asked Takashima about his fortunes and received the fourth line of Zhun, "the horses pull apart; seek a match". Takashima read it as: the one above will not take your plans, so turn to the first line below for help.

The hexagram

Hexagram 3 Zhūn (Difficulty at the Beginning). The Judgment: Zhun (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.

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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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