Hexagram 53 of 64
漸 Jiàn · Gradual Progress
上 巽 Wind (Xùn) over 下 艮 Mountain (Gèn)
Slow is swift.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: a tree upon the mountain.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Jiàn is a tree upon the mountain, growing inch by inch along the slopes. Jiàn speaks of measured order: step by step, seemingly slow, yet arriving earlier than skipping ahead. Those skipped steps must always be made up later, and making them up demands far more effort than walking them in the first place.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“The wild goose gradually draws near the shore. For the young child, danger; words are spoken, yet no blame.” The wild goose gradually reaches the waterside but has yet to gain a firm footing. A young, inexperienced person faces danger (the meaning of lì) and also draws comment. Yet judged by the principles underlying the circumstances, this situation involves no fault. It remains a case of “no blame”: no wrongdoing and no grounds for reproach.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“The peril of the youth; in principle there is no blame.” The young man is in a perilous position, yet according to reason there is no blame. Initial six dwells at the bottom, with no support above.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“The wild goose gradually draws near the large rock, eating and drinking with calm joy: good fortune.” The wild goose gradually reaches a large, solid rock, where it eats and drinks in comfort and contentment. Kànkàn describes this peaceful, happy state. Compared with its first arrival at the waterside, it now has a secure footing and can nourish itself at ease. Thus the judgment is “good fortune,” meaning that its situation is favorable.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Eating and drinking merrily; not stuffing oneself in vain.” Enjoying food in harmony does not mean being fed in vain without merit. Six in the second place is centered and correct; the sustenance received is earned through meaningful achievement.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“The wild goose gradually draws near dry land. The husband sets forth and returns not; the wife conceives but does not bear: misfortune. Favorable to resist bandits.” The wild goose gradually reaches high, level ground. The husband goes to war and never returns; his wife conceives but cannot raise the child. Wáng Bì interprets this as the third, yang line drawing close to the adjacent fourth, yin line: an improper union, leaving the group and losing the right path. Hence “misfortune,” an unfavorable situation. “Favorable to resist intruders” emphasizes upholding what is right and protecting one another against intrusion.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“The husband marches and returns not, parting from fellows. The wife conceives but does not bear, losing the way. Beneficial to resist bandits, yielding to preserve each other.” The husband marching without returning means leaving his kind (chǒu means kind); the wife conceiving without giving birth means losing the proper marital way; being beneficial to resist bandits is because they yield to one another, preserving mutual protection.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“The wild goose gradually draws near the trees, perhaps finding a flat branch: no blame.” The wild goose gradually reaches a tree. Trees are not easy places for it to perch, but it may find a straight, level branch to rest on. Jué originally means a rafter with a square cross section; here it stands for a level branch that offers a resting place. Finding a suitable footing brings “no blame,” meaning no fault.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Perhaps finding a flat branch; yielding and gentle.” A wild goose on a tree may perhaps find a flat branch to roost on, showing that six in the fourth place yields to circumstances with modesty and gentleness to seek stability, so there is no blame.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“The wild goose gradually draws near the high mound. For three years the wife conceives not, yet in the end none can overcome her: good fortune.” The wild goose gradually reaches a high hill; the wife has been unable to conceive for three years. This represents a rightful union temporarily obstructed. Yet the obstacles cannot ultimately overcome the couple, who can still unite in the end. Hence “good fortune,” meaning a favorable conclusion.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“In the end none overcomes him, good fortune; he attains his wish.” No one can defeat him, bringing good fortune because his desire is fulfilled. Nine in the fifth place and six in the second correspond; though obstructed initially, they ultimately unite.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“The wild goose gradually draws near the high plateau; its feathers can serve for ritual dance: good fortune.” The wild goose gradually reaches high, level ground, and its feathers can be used as ceremonial adornments. Yí means ceremonial ornamentation and also suggests an exemplary bearing worthy of admiration. Having reached the end of its gradual progress, it still preserves its noble integrity and can serve as a model. Hence “good fortune,” a favorable judgment.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Its feathers can serve as a model, good fortune; it cannot be thrown into disorder.” Wild goose feathers can serve as a model of conduct; good fortune comes because nine at the top dwells at the end of the hexagram, advancing and retreating in order without being thrown into disorder.
Zhouyi, hexagram 53, line 12. Koyonari translation.