Hexagram 39 for work
Hexagram 39 Impasse for work and career
At work Jian is the stalled project, the blocked negotiation, the role in which every forward step meets a wall. The commentary's praise is for the one who 'sees the danger and is able to stop' — not giving up, but refusing to spend strength against an obstacle that does not yield to strength. The Judgment points to the south-west, the easy ground, and to seeing the great person: go round, and find the one who can help. The Great Image turns the delay to use: examine yourself and improve what you can.
The lines give the working positions. One: do not launch yet. Two: if the hardship is on behalf of the organisation or a leader, carry it and you will not be faulted. Three: you could try to force it, but go back to the team that depends on you. Four: stop acting alone and combine with others who are also stuck. Five: the person at the centre of the crisis holds steady and support arrives. Six: the one nearly out of the difficulty gains most by turning back to help. Changing lines below counsel stopping; above, the way out runs through other people.
The hexagram in brief
Water on the mountain: a hard pass. Favourable to the southwest, not the northeast; see the great man — obstruction is a time to turn back and cultivate yourself.
Don't batter the obstacle; go round, seek help, and use the delay to grow.
The judgment
蹇：利西南，不利東北；利見大人，貞吉。In (the state indicated by) Kien advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man. (In these circumstances), with firmness and correctness, there will be good fortune.
Which line changed?
A changing line sharpens the answer. Each line of 蹇 Impasse has its own page:
- 初六Six at the beginninggoing means difficulty · staying brings praise · wait
- 六二Six in the second placethe king's minister · difficulty upon difficulty · not for oneself
- 九三Nine in the third placeturning back · the inner circle rejoices · the one strong line below
- 六四Six in the fourth placejoining forces · already in the water · solid in its place
- 九五Nine in the fifth placethe great obstruction · friends arrive · central virtue
- 上六Six at the topgreat gain in staying · the will turned inward · following the noble
The same hexagram for
Questions
- What does hexagram 39, Impasse, mean for a career question?
- At work Jian is the stalled project, the blocked negotiation, the role in which every forward step meets a wall. The commentary's praise is for the one who 'sees the danger and is able to stop' — not giving up, but refusing to spend strength against an obstacle that does not yield to strength. The Judgment points to the south-west, the easy ground, and to seeing the great person: go round, and find the one who can help. The Great Image turns the delay to use: examine yourself and improve what you can.
- What does Hexagram 39, 蹇 Impasse, mean?
- Water on the mountain: a hard pass. Favourable to the southwest, not the northeast; see the great man — obstruction is a time to turn back and cultivate yourself.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).