kǎnAlso known as “The Abysmal” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Khan” (Legge)
dangerthe abysssteadfastness
In plain words
Water upon water: repeated danger. With sincerity the heart gets through — flow like water, filling each hollow and moving on without losing your nature.
The attitude it asks for
Don't panic and don't climb out too fast; keep inner honesty, practise with the difficulty, and keep moving.
Khan repeated shows us one defile succeeding another.
This is the nature of water;—it flows on, without accumulating its volume (so as to overflow); it pursues its way through a dangerous defile, without losing its true (nature).
That 'the mind is penetrating' is indicated by the strong (line) in the centre. That 'action (in accordance with this) will be of high value' tells us that advance will be followed by achievement.
The dangerous (height) of heaven cannot be ascended; the difficult places of the earth are mountains, rivers, hills, and mounds. Kings and princes arrange, by means of such strengths, to maintain their territories. Great indeed is the use of (what is here) taught about seasons of peril.
The Image
水洊至，習坎；君子以常德行，習教事。
(The representation of) water flowing on continuously forms the repeated Khan. The superior man, in accordance with this, maintains constantly the virtue (of his heart) and (the integrity of) his conduct, and practises the business of instruction.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
係用徽纆，寘于叢棘，三歲不得，凶。
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject bound with cords of three strands or two strands, and placed in the thicket of thorns. But in three years he does not learn the course for him to pursue. There will be evil.
Its symbolism
上六失道，凶三歲也。
'The sixth line, divided, shows its subject missing his (proper) course:'—'there will be evil for three years.'
The fifth line, undivided, shows the water of the defile not yet full, (so that it might flow away); but order will (soon) be brought about. There will be no error.
Its symbolism
坎不盈，中未大也。
'The water in the defile is not full (so as to flow away):'—(the virtue indicated by) the central situation is not yet (sufficiently) great.
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject (at a feast), with (simply) a bottle of spirits, and a subsidiary basket of rice, while (the cups and bowls) are (only) of earthenware. He introduces his important lessons (as his ruler's) intelligence admits. There will in the end be no error.
Its symbolism
樽酒簋貳，剛柔際也。
'(Nothing but) a bottle of spirits and a subsidiary basket of rice:'—(these describe) the meeting at this point of (those who are represented by) the strong and weak lines.
The third line, divided, shows its subject, whether he comes or goes (=descends or ascends), confronted by a defile. All is peril to him and unrest. (His endeavours) will lead him into the cavern of the pit. There should be no action (in such a case).
Its symbolism
來之坎坎，終无功也。
'Whether he comes or goes, he is confronted by a defile:'—he will never (in such circumstances) achieve any success.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 29, The Pit (Water), mean?
Water upon water: repeated danger. With sincerity the heart gets through — flow like water, filling each hollow and moving on without losing your nature.
Which trigrams form The Pit (Water)?
坎 above 坎 — water over water. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 頤 Jaws / Nourishment.
What happens when a line of The Pit (Water) changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get The Pit (Water) in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - — - - - - — - - is The Pit (Water). You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.