There is sincerity. Hold fast to the heart: success. Going forward brings esteem.
彖傳 · Tuan Zhuan
Judgment Commentary
Repeated Pitfalls means doubled danger. Water flows on and does not fill up. It moves through danger without losing its trust. Hold fast to the heart: success. This comes through firm centeredness. Going forward brings esteem: in going on there is achievement. Heaven's danger cannot be climbed. Earth's danger lies in mountains, rivers, hills, and ridges. Kings and dukes establish dangers to guard their states. The time and use of danger are truly great.
象 · Xiang
Image
Water arrives again and again: Repeated Pitfalls. The Noble One keeps virtue and conduct constant and practices the work of teaching.
六爻 · Six Lines
Lines
Line 06
Top Six
Bound with cords and ropes, placed among thickets of thorns, one cannot find release for three years. Misfortune.
Commentary
Top Six loses the Way: the misfortune lasts three years.
Line 05
Nine in the Fifth
The pit does not overflow; it only comes level. No blame.
Commentary
The pit does not overflow: the center is not yet great.
Line 04
Six in the Fourth
A jug of wine, a pair of bowls, and earthenware vessels. Receive a simple pledge through the window. In the end, no blame.
Commentary
A jug of wine and a pair of bowls means that the firm and the yielding meet.
Line 03
Six in the Third
Coming to pit upon pit, dangerous and obstructed, one enters the pit within the pit. Do not use this.
Commentary
Coming to pit upon pit means that in the end there is no achievement.
Line 02
Nine in the Second
The pit has danger. Seek only small gains.
Commentary
Seeking only small gains means one has not yet left the center.
Line 01
Initial Six
Repeated pitfalls. Enter into the pit within the pit. Misfortune.
Commentary
Repeated pitfalls, entering the pit: losing the Way is misfortune.