Hexagram 3, line 1
初九Line 1 of Sprouting
Nine at the beginning · 屯 zhūn
爻辭 The line text
磐桓；利居貞，利建侯。The first line, undivided, shows the difficulty (its subject has) in advancing. It will be advantageous for him to abide correct and firm; advantageous (also) to be made a feudal ruler.
雖磐桓，志行正也。以貴下賤，大得民也。Although 'there is a difficulty in advancing,' the mind (of the subject of the line) is set on doing what is correct. While noble, he humbles himself to the mean, and grandly gains the people.
In plain words
'Hesitating and turning about; it is favourable to stay correct, favourable to set up feudal lords.' Line one is the only yang line in the lower trigram Zhen, thunder, and the ruler of the hexagram: it is the sprout's first push, strong, but facing the water of Kan above. Rather than charge, it circles (磐桓), and the text approves. The small Image reads the hesitation as a will that is nevertheless correct (志行正也), and explains 'set up lords' as the noble placing itself below the humble to win the people greatly (以貴下賤，大得民也). Cheng Yi: a strong person at the start of a hard time gathers support instead of forcing a path.
If this line is changing
Hold your position and gather allies before you push; the strength you have is better spent winning people over than forcing the first step.
Where the line stands
- A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 震 Zhen (the Arousing) (thunder).
- It corresponds (應) with line 4: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
屯 Sprouting becomes ䷇ 8 比 Alliance
Water on the earth, flowing together: alliance and mutual support. Favourable to unite around a worthy centre; latecomers who hesitate lose their chance.
What it becomes8 · 比 AlliancebǐThe six lines of 屯 Sprouting
- 初九Nine at the beginninghesitating · staying put · winning the people
- 六二Six in the second placehorses turning back · not a robber · ten years
- 六三Six in the third placehunting without a guide · lost in the forest · better to give up
- 六四Six in the fourth placehorses turning back · seeking union · going is good
- 九五Nine in the fifth placeblocked generosity · small is fine · great is dangerous
- 上六Six at the tophorses turning back · weeping blood · cannot last
Read 屯 Sprouting for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Nine at the beginning of hexagram 3, Sprouting, mean?
- 'Hesitating and turning about; it is favourable to stay correct, favourable to set up feudal lords.' Line one is the only yang line in the lower trigram Zhen, thunder, and the ruler of the hexagram: it is the sprout's first push, strong, but facing the water of Kan above. Rather than charge, it circles (磐桓), and the text approves. The small Image reads the hesitation as a will that is nevertheless correct (志行正也), and explains 'set up lords' as the noble placing itself below the humble to win the people greatly (以貴下賤，大得民也). Cheng Yi: a strong person at the start of a hard time gathers support instead of forcing a path.
- What does hexagram 3 become when line 1 changes?
- Sprouting becomes hexagram 8, 比 Alliance: Water on the earth, flowing together: alliance and mutual support. Favourable to unite around a worthy centre; latecomers who hesitate lose their chance.
- Is line 1 of Sprouting in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).