Hexagram 39 of 64
蹇 Jiǎn · Obstruction
上 坎 Water (Kǎn) over 下 艮 Mountain (Gèn)
On a hard road, take a companion.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: water on the mountain.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Jiǎn is water upon the mountain: water obstructed by rocky heights, path impassable. Jiǎn speaks of finding a companion on a hard road: you need not shoulder it alone. Pausing to ask for help is itself a way of moving forward, saving far more time and preventing more harm than struggling alone on the spot.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Advancing brings hardship, turning back brings praise.” Going forward brings obstacles, while turning back earns praise. Jiǎn means difficulty in advancing, and lái means returning. The first yin line stands at the beginning of hardship. Pausing to await the right moment is the choice praised in this line.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Going brings hardship, coming brings praise: it is fitting to wait.” The Line Image explains why halting and retreating earns praise. At the start of danger, advancing blindly plunges one into hardship, while withdrawing to hold ground wins praise. This shows that it is appropriate to stay calm and await a favorable moment rather than rushing forward recklessly.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“The king's minister encounters difficulty upon difficulty, not for personal gain.” The king's minister faces repeated hardships, yet does all he can to fulfill his responsibility for resolving them. Jiǎn jiǎn means difficulties coming one after another. Fěi gōng zhī gù explains that he undertakes these hardships in service to the king, rather than for his own private affairs.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“The king's minister encounters hardship upon hardship: in the end there is no fault.” The Line Image explains why the minister facing danger incurs no blame. Six in the second place holds central correctness; as an assisting minister in layered perils, braving danger is entirely for the sovereign's service and justice, not private gain. Hence, despite hardship, no blame is incurred.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Advancing brings hardship; turning back brings return home.” Obstacles ahead lead one back to the original place. Jiǎn means difficulty in traveling, also a metaphor for difficult circumstances; fǎn means returning. At the top of the inner trigram, the third yang line describes returning to one's former position when progress is blocked.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Going brings hardship, coming returns: those within rejoice.” The Line Image explains why returning to stay safe pleases those within. Advancing into the danger of Kǎn brings obstruction; wisely returning to the inner trigram to unite with Initial Six and Six in the second place wins the attachment and joyful embrace of companions within.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Advancing brings hardship; turning back joins alliances.” Going forward still brings obstacles, so one turns back to join the third yang line and face the difficulties together. Jiǎn means difficulty in advancing, and lián means joining. The fourth yin line describes returning to connect with someone dependable when circumstances are difficult.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Going brings hardship, coming connects: being in place is solid.” The Line Image explains 'going brings hardship, coming connects.' Six in the fourth place is a yin line properly in a yin seat, solid and fitting. Going forward brings hardship; regarding 'connecting' upon returning, Wang Bi and Kong Yingda interpret it as difficulty both going and returning, while Zhu Xi's Běnyì (Original Meaning) explains it as connecting with Nine in the third place below.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Amidst great difficulty, friends arrive.” Amid great hardship, like-minded companions come to help. Dà jiǎn means a deeply difficult predicament, and péng lái means companions arriving to offer aid. The fifth yang line is central and correctly placed. It describes someone bearing hardship who receives support from those sharing the same purpose.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“In great hardship, companions come: through central moderation.” The Line Image explains why companions rally to help amid great hardship. Occupying the honored seat, Nine in the fifth place is trapped in adversity; but holding to central moderation and inspiring others through upright virtue, it draws like-minded companions together from all sides to cooperate and rescue the imperiled situation.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Advancing brings hardship; turning back yields greatness. Good fortune. Favorable to see the great person.” Going forward still brings obstacles, but returning can lead to great accomplishment and good fortune. It is favorable to meet the 'great person,' someone of virtue and standing. Shuò means great, referring to the possibility of achievement. The top yin line concludes Jiǎn, returning to face the difficulties together with the fifth yang line.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Going brings hardship, coming brings greatness: the will is within. Favorable to see the great person: following the noble.” The Line Image explains two levels. Advancing leads nowhere at the hexagram's end, while returning yields great success because the will is directed within. Seeing the great person means following the noble Nine in the fifth place.
Zhouyi, hexagram 39, line 12. Koyonari translation.