Hexagram 39, line 6
上六Line 6 of Impasse
Six at the top · 蹇 jiǎn
爻辭 The line text
往蹇來碩，吉；利見大人。The topmost line, divided, shows its subject going forward, (only to increase) the difficulties, while his remaining stationary will be (productive of) great (merit). There will be good fortune, and it will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
往蹇來碩，志在內也。利見大人，以從貴也。'To advance will (only) increase the difficulties, while his remaining stationary will (be productive of) great (merit):'—his aim is to assist the (subject of the line) inside of him. 'It will be advantageous to meet the great man:'—by his course he follows that noble (lord of the figure).
In plain words
To go is obstruction; to come is greatness; good fortune; favourable to see the great person. The top line is yin at the end of Kan, the far side of the danger and the end of the hexagram. It could go on alone and out — but 往 is still 蹇, and the text calls turning back 碩, great, substantial. The small Image explains: 'the will is within' (志在內), directed toward the ruler at five, and 'to see the great person' means 'following the noble one' (以從貴). The last word of Obstruction is that the one who has nearly got clear turns back to help the one still in the middle.
If this line is changing
You are nearly through, and the greater thing is not to finish alone but to turn back toward the person at the centre who still needs you; that is where the good fortune lies.
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 corresponds (應) with line 3: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
蹇 Impasse becomes ䷴ 53 漸 Gradual Advance
A tree on the mountain: gradual growth. The wild goose advances stage by stage — shore, rock, dry land, tree, hill, the heights — good fortune for a marriage, success through correctness.
What it becomes53 · 漸 Gradual AdvancejiànThe 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 top of hexagram 39, Impasse, mean?
- To go is obstruction; to come is greatness; good fortune; favourable to see the great person. The top line is yin at the end of Kan, the far side of the danger and the end of the hexagram. It could go on alone and out — but 往 is still 蹇, and the text calls turning back 碩, great, substantial. The small Image explains: 'the will is within' (志在內), directed toward the ruler at five, and 'to see the great person' means 'following the noble one' (以從貴). The last word of Obstruction is that the one who has nearly got clear turns back to help the one still in the middle.
- What does hexagram 39 become when line 6 changes?
- Impasse becomes hexagram 53, 漸 Gradual Advance: A tree on the mountain: gradual growth. The wild goose advances stage by stage — shore, rock, dry land, tree, hill, the heights — good fortune for a marriage, success through correctness.
- Is line 6 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).