Hexagram 39, line 4
六四Line 4 of Impasse
Six in the fourth place · 蹇 jiǎn
爻辭 The line text
往蹇來連。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and unites (with the subject of the line above).
往蹇來連，當位實也。'To advance will (only be to) encounter (greater) difficulties; he remains stationary, and unites (with the subject of the line above):'—that is in its proper place and has the solidity (due to it in that position).
In plain words
To go is obstruction; to come is to join. Line four is the first line of Kan, already in the water, yin in its correct place. Going further means deeper danger; 來連, coming back to join, means linking up with the strong line at three below and with the others who are also held up. It has no corresponding line — the first is yin like itself — so what it has instead is adjacency and solidarity. The small Image says it can do this because it is 'in its proper place and solid' (當位實): a line that holds its position honestly becomes a point others can gather around.
If this line is changing
Do not try to get through alone; step back far enough to link up with the others who are stuck, and let your steadiness be the thing they rally to.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin 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 upper trigram 坎 Kan (the Abysmal) (water).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 1: 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 ䷞ 31 咸 Sensing
Lake on the mountain: the mountain yields and the lake moistens it — mutual attraction. Success; taking a wife brings good fortune; influence that comes from genuine, emptied-out receptiveness.
What it becomes31 · 咸 SensingxiánThe 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 in the fourth place of hexagram 39, Impasse, mean?
- To go is obstruction; to come is to join. Line four is the first line of Kan, already in the water, yin in its correct place. Going further means deeper danger; 來連, coming back to join, means linking up with the strong line at three below and with the others who are also held up. It has no corresponding line — the first is yin like itself — so what it has instead is adjacency and solidarity. The small Image says it can do this because it is 'in its proper place and solid' (當位實): a line that holds its position honestly becomes a point others can gather around.
- What does hexagram 39 become when line 4 changes?
- Impasse becomes hexagram 31, 咸 Sensing: Lake on the mountain: the mountain yields and the lake moistens it — mutual attraction. Success; taking a wife brings good fortune; influence that comes from genuine, emptied-out receptiveness.
- Is line 4 of Impasse 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).