39
蹇
Jiǎn

Hexagram 39: Obstruction

彖 · Tuan

Judgment

Favorable in the southwest, not favorable in the northeast. Favorable to see a person of stature. Perseverance brings Good fortune.
Judgment Commentary · 彖傳
Obstruction means difficulty: danger lies ahead. To see danger and yet know to stop, how wise. Obstruction is favorable in the southwest because going there gains the center. It is not favorable in the northeast because that path runs to exhaustion. It is favorable to see a person of stature because going there brings achievement. Properly placed perseverance brings Good fortune because it sets the state right. Great indeed is the timely use of Obstruction.
象 · Xiang

Image

Water on the mountain: Obstruction. The Noble One turns back to the self and cultivates virtue.
六爻 · Six Lines

Lines

Line 06

Top Six
Going on brings obstruction; coming back brings greatness. Good fortune. Favorable to see a person of stature.
Corresponds to line 3
Commentary
Going on brings obstruction, while coming back brings greatness because the will turns inward. Favorable to see a person of stature means following what is honored.

Line 05

Nine in the Fifth
In great obstruction, friends come.
Central Corresponds to line 2
Commentary
When the obstruction is great and friends come, centeredness provides measure.

Line 04

Six in the Fourth
Going on brings obstruction; coming back brings joining.
Corresponds to line 1
Commentary
Going on brings obstruction, while coming back brings joining. Being in the proper place gives real substance.

Line 03

Nine in the Third
Going on brings obstruction; coming back means return.
Corresponds to line 6
Commentary
Going on brings obstruction, while coming back means return. Those within rejoice at this.

Line 02

Six in the Second
The king's servant faces difficulty upon difficulty, not for the sake of self.
Central Corresponds to line 5
Commentary
The king's servant faces difficulty upon difficulty, yet in the end there is no fault.

Line 01

Initial Six
Going on brings obstruction; coming back brings praise.
Corresponds to line 4
Commentary
Going on brings obstruction, while coming back brings praise. It is right to wait.
卦象 · Guà Xiàng

Trigrams

Upper Trigram

K'an

Dangerous

Element
Water
Direction
North
Family
Middle Son
Season
Winter
Lower Trigram

Kên

Still

Element
Earth
Direction
Northeast
Family
Youngest Son
Season
Early Winter
Palace
Dui Palace
Role: Fourth Generation
Shi line 4 · Ying line 1

Related hexagrams

Nuclear
Hexagram 64: Before Completion
Opposite
Hexagram 38: Opposition
Inverse
Hexagram 40: Deliverance
Same palace
Hexagram 58: The Joyous Lake
Same palace
Hexagram 47: Oppression
Same palace
Hexagram 45: Gathering Together

Correspondences

Upper Trigram
坎 K'an
Dangerous
Lower Trigram
艮 Kên
Still
Palace
Dui Palace
Palace 8
Element
金 Metal
See the full correspondence table →
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Hexagram 38
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Hexagram 40