Hexagram 47 of 64
困 Kùn · Exhaustion
上 兌 Lake (Duì) over 下 坎 Water (Kǎn)
When hemmed in, tend to yourself first.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: a lake without water.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Kùn is a lake without water: what ought to be moist lies dry. Kùn speaks of tending to yourself first when hemmed in: settle your body and feelings before talking about how to break free. Decisions made under distress are often rushed; take a pause first, and the way forward usually appears once you catch your breath.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Buttocks hemmed in upon a tree stump, entering a dark valley: unseen for three years.” The buttocks are trapped on a dead tree without branches or leaves (zhū mù), making it hard to sit securely. Then comes entry into a dark valley, with no meeting for three years (dí means ‘to meet’). These images depict hardship with nowhere secure to rest, prolonged isolation, and difficulty seeing anyone.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Entering a gloomy valley: dark and obscure.” The line statement speaking of falling into a gloomy valley occurs because initial six lies at the bottom of Kùn, deeply caught in peril, weak and benighted, situated in a narrow obscurity where neither light nor hope can be seen.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Hemmed in by wine and food. Crimson knee-covers arrive: favorable to offer sacrifice. Advancing brings misfortune, yet no blame.” Wine and food are normally desired, but here their abundance becomes a burden and a source of distress. The zhū fú, symbolizing the king, is about to arrive; it is a scarlet ornament covering the knees on ceremonial dress. Sacrifice is fitting, with hēng used here for xiǎng. Going forward now brings misfortune, an unfavorable outcome, yet still ‘no blame’: no fault or grounds for reproach.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Oppressed over food and drink: there is celebration within the center.” Being hemmed in over food and drink yet speaking of celebration within occurs because nine in the second place is a firm line holding the center of the lower trigram, keeping to the central course and ultimately bringing joy.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Hemmed in by stone, resting on thorns; entering his house and not seeing his wife. Misfortune.” A stone blocks the way ahead, while the hoped-for support is a thorny puncturevine. Returning home, the person cannot see their wife. Advance is blocked, retreat offers no support, and even the home provides no help. This line judges the situation as misfortune, meaning an unfavorable predicament.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Leaning on thorns: riding on the firm. Entering one's house and not seeing one's wife: inauspicious.” Leaning upon caltrops occurs because six in the third place, a yielding line, rides upon the firm yang of nine in the second place (a yielding line weighing above a firm line is termed riding the firm); entering one's own chamber yet failing to see one's wife is an omen of misfortune.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Coming slowly, hemmed in by a bronze chariot. Regret, yet a good end.” The wish is to come and join the corresponding person below, but movement is slow and hesitant, blocked by a strong figure symbolized by the ‘metal chariot.’ Humiliation means an embarrassing predicament. ‘An eventual conclusion’ means that, although meeting is difficult for a time, the meeting can ultimately take place.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Approaching slowly: the aspiration lies below. Although not in proper place, there is a companion.” Moving with deliberate slowness is because nine in the fourth place directs its purpose toward initial six below; although occupying a yin place with a yang line and improperly positioned, it resonates in correspondence with initial six and possesses a partner with whom to unite.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Nose and feet cut off, hemmed in by red robes: gradually deliverance comes. Favorable to offer sacrifice.” As if subjected to nose-cutting and foot amputation, harm is suffered above and below, with further distress because subordinates cannot help. Chì fú is a red ornament covering the knees on a subordinate's ceremonial dress. Only later does release from hardship gradually come; shuō here stands for tuō, ‘to escape.’ At this point, sacrifice offered with sincerity is fitting.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Noses and feet cut off: the aspiration is not yet attained. Then slowly there is joy, through being central and upright. Beneficial to offer sacrifices, receiving blessings.” Suffering the mutilations of severed noses and feet occurs because aspirations have not yet been realized; later, joy gradually arrives (shuō is read as yuè, joy; another view reads it as tuō, deliverance) because nine in the fifth place is central and upright; conducting sacrifices is beneficial because through them one receives blessings.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Entangled in creeping vines, perching precariously, saying 'movement brings remorse.' If remorse is felt, advancing brings good fortune.” Entangling vines hold the person captive in an unstable, swaying situation. Gé lěi means vines; niè wù means instability. At first, the person feels that acting will bring regret. If reflection leads to a change in the previous course of action, going forward to seek release can bring good fortune, a favorable result.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Entangled in creepers: not appropriate. Moving with regret, having regret brings good fortune: an auspicious course of action.” Being bound and hampered by creeping vines in a perilous state occurs because top six sits at the extreme peak of adversity, where its position and actions are inappropriate; if it can recognize its plight, feel remorse, and mend its ways to move forward, this becomes an auspicious course that shakes off distress.
Zhouyi, hexagram 47, line 12. Koyonari translation.