Hexagram 39, line 1
初六Line 1 of Impasse
Six at the beginning · 蹇 jiǎn
爻辭 The line text
往蹇，來譽。From the first line, divided, we learn that advance (on the part of its subject) will lead to (greater) difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise.
往蹇來譽，宜待也。'Advancing will conduct to (greater) difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise:'—the proper course is to wait.
In plain words
To go is obstruction; to come is praise. Every line of Jian turns on this pair of words: 往, going forward into the water of Kan above, and 來, coming back or staying with the mountain below. Line one is yin in a yang place at the very bottom, weak and far from the danger, and it has no corresponding line to draw it upward. The hexagram's commentary praises the one who 'sees the danger and can stop', and this is the first and easiest place to do that. The small Image says the right course is simply to wait (宜待). Nothing has been lost yet; the praise is for not starting.
If this line is changing
You are at the foot of the difficulty with nothing committed; the wise move is not to set out at all yet, and no one will think less of you for it.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 艮 Gen (Keeping Still) (mountain).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 4: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
蹇 Impasse becomes ䷾ 63 既濟 Already Crossed
Water over fire, every line in its proper place: completion. Success in small matters; favourable to persevere — good at the start, disorder at the end if you relax.
What it becomes63 · 既濟 Already Crossedjì jìThe six lines of 蹇 Impasse
- 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
Read 蹇 Impasse for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six at the beginning of hexagram 39, Impasse, mean?
- To go is obstruction; to come is praise. Every line of Jian turns on this pair of words: 往, going forward into the water of Kan above, and 來, coming back or staying with the mountain below. Line one is yin in a yang place at the very bottom, weak and far from the danger, and it has no corresponding line to draw it upward. The hexagram's commentary praises the one who 'sees the danger and can stop', and this is the first and easiest place to do that. The small Image says the right course is simply to wait (宜待). Nothing has been lost yet; the praise is for not starting.
- What does hexagram 39 become when line 1 changes?
- Impasse becomes hexagram 63, 既濟 Already Crossed: Water over fire, every line in its proper place: completion. Success in small matters; favourable to persevere — good at the start, disorder at the end if you relax.
- Is line 1 of Impasse in its correct place?
- It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).