Hexagram 39: Jiǎn (Obstruction)
水山蹇 · 第 39 卦 · Water over Mountain · 中文版
The Judgment
In (the state indicated by) Jian 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.
蹇：利西南，不利东北；利见大人，贞吉。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
Jian 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 tri. gram), is he not wise? (The language of) Jian, 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 Jian 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 Jian!
彖曰：蹇，难也，险在前也。见险而能止，知矣哉！蹇利西南，往得中也；不利东北，其道穷也。利见大人，往有功也。当位贞吉，以正邦也。蹇之时用大矣哉！
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) a mountain, and above it that for water, form Jian. The superior man, in accordance with this, turns round (and examines) himself, and cultivates his virtue.
象曰：山上有水，蹇；君子以反身修德。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): 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.
'Advancing will conduct to (greater) difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise:' - the proper course is to wait.
In plain words: Going on meets obstruction; coming back meets praise. The first line is at the start of obstruction, with the danger of the upper trigram ahead; it sees the danger and stops, knowing when to hold back. The Small Image says it is right to wait.
初六：往蹇，来誉。 象曰：往蹇来誉，宜待也。
Line 2 (second): The second SIX, divided, shows the minister of the king struggling with difficulty on difficulty, and not with a view to his own advantage.
'The minister of the king struggles with difficulty on difficulty:' - in the end no blame will be attached to him.
In plain words: The king's servant meets obstruction upon obstruction, not for his own sake. The second line is central and correct and corresponds to the fifth; it shares the ruler's burden and labours through hardship. The Small Image says in the end there is no fault.
六二：王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故。 象曰：王臣蹇蹇，终无尤也。
Line 3 (third): The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and returns (to his former associates).
'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.
In plain words: Going on meets obstruction, so it comes back. The third line is the only yang line in the lower trigram; danger lies ahead, so it returns to the two yin lines below and becomes their support. The Small Image says those within rejoice.
九三：往蹇，来反。 象曰：往蹇来反，内喜之也。
Line 4 (fourth): 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).
'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).
In plain words: Going on meets obstruction; coming back, one joins with others. The fourth line is at the start of the upper trigram of danger; not strong enough alone, it joins with the third line below and together they get through. The Small Image says its position is proper and solid.
六四：往蹇，来连。 象曰：往蹇来连，当位实也。
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject struggling with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming to help him.
'He struggles with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming (to help him):' - he is in the central position, and possesses the requisite virtue.
In plain words: In great obstruction, friends come. The fifth line is in the middle of the danger: the ruler meets a great crisis, but being central and correct, the second line and others come to help. The Small Image says this is because it keeps to the middle with measure.
九五：大蹇，朋来。 象曰：大蹇朋来，以中节也。
Line 6 (sixth (top)): 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.
'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).
In plain words: Going on meets obstruction; coming back brings great achievement: good fortune; it is favourable to see the great man. The top line is at the end of obstruction; the hardship is nearly over, and coming back to support the fifth line can achieve great things. The Small Image says its aim lies within, and seeing the great man means following the one who is honoured.
上六：往蹇，来硕，吉；利见大人。 象曰：往蹇来硕，志在内也。利见大人，以从贵也。
Line positions
5 of the six lines stand in their proper place (strong lines in odd places, weak lines in even places).
The second and fifth lines hold the central places of the lower and upper trigrams; being one strong and one weak, they correspond, and both are also in their proper places.
Of the three pairs of corresponding places (first and fourth, second and fifth, third and top), 2 pairs are made of one strong and one weak line.
| Line | Proper place | Central | Corresponds with |
|---|---|---|---|
| top (weak) | yes | — | 3rd line: yes |
| 5th (strong) | yes | yes | 2nd line: yes |
| 4th (weak) | yes | — | 1st line: no |
| 3rd (strong) | yes | — | top line: yes |
| 2nd (weak) | yes | yes | 5th line: yes |
| 1st (weak) | — | — | 4th line: no |
Strong lines belong in odd places and weak lines in even places; the second and fifth are the central places; first and fourth, second and fifth, third and top correspond, and they "respond" when one is strong and the other weak.
These are structural conventions, not scores of good or bad fortune. Commentators differ: Wang Bi treats the first and top places as beginning and end without fixed yin or yang positions. Read each line with its Small Image and the whole hexagram.
Place in Jing Fang's eight palaces
Jing Fang grouped the 64 hexagrams into eight "palaces" of eight, each headed by a doubled trigram. Changing the lines of the head hexagram one by one from the bottom gives the next five; the last two are the "wandering soul" and "returning soul" hexagrams. The Dui palace runs: Duì (head), Kùn (1st change), Cuì (2nd change), Xián (3rd change), Jiǎn (4th change), Qiān (5th change), Xiǎo Guò (wandering soul), Guī Mèi (returning soul).
A recorded case from Takashima
Jian to Jing: a son's business debts: Takashima called on a Tokyo gentleman who was running about trying to deal with his son's large business debts. The gentleman cast himself and drew the second line of Jian, "the king's servant struggles on and on, not for his own sake". Takashima read the neighbouring lines as a plan for the debts: gather the creditors, negotiate reductions, bring in an outside elder to mediate, and for now step back and wait.
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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.