jiànAlso known as “Development” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Kien” (Legge)
gradual progressdevelopmentorderly advance
In plain words
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.
The attitude it asks for
Advance in order, each step consolidated before the next; slow and proper beats fast and shaky.
Kien suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune (attending it). There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
Commentary on the Judgment
漸之進也，女歸吉也。進得位，往有功也。進以正，可以正邦也。其位剛，得中也。止而巽，動不窮也。
The advance indicated by Kien is (like) the marrying of a young lady which is attended by good fortune.
(The lines) as they advance get into their correct places:—this indicates the achievements of a successful progress. The advance is made according to correctness:—(the subject of the hexagram) might rectify his country.
Among the places (of the hexagram) we see the strong undivided line in the centre.
'In (the attributes of) restfulness and flexible penetration we have (the assurance of) an (onward) movement that is inexhaustible.
The Image
山上有木，漸；君子以居賢德，善俗。
(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for a tree form Kien. The superior man, in accordance with this, attains to and maintains his extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
鴻漸于陸，其羽可用為儀，吉。
The sixth line, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the large heights (beyond). Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
其羽可用為儀，吉；不可亂也。
'Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune:'—(the object and character of the subject of the line) cannot be disturbed.
The fifth line, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the high mound. (It suggests the idea of) a wife who for three years does not become pregnant; but in the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
終莫之勝，吉；得所愿也。
'In the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. There will be good fortune:'—(the subject of the line) will get what he desires.
The third line, undivided, shows them gradually advanced to the dry plains. (It suggests also the idea of) a husband who goes on an expedition from which he does not return, and of a wife who is pregnant, but will not nourish her child. There will be evil. (The case symbolised) might be advantageous in resisting plunderers.
Its symbolism
夫征不復，離群醜也。婦孕不育，失其道也。利用御寇，順相保也。
'A husband goes and does not return:'—he separates himself from his comrades. 'A wife is pregnant, but will not nourish her child:'—she has failed in her (proper) course. 'It might be advantageous in resisting plunderers:'—by acting as here indicated men would preserve one another.
The second line, divided, shows the geese gradually approaching the large rocks, where they eat and drink joyfully and at ease. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
飲食衎衎，不素飽也。
'They eat and drink joyfully and at ease:'—but not without having earned their food.
The first line, divided, shows the wild geese gradually approaching the shore. A young officer (in similar circumstances) will be in a position of danger, and be spoken against; but there will be no error.
Its symbolism
小子之厲，義无咎也。
'The danger of a small officer (as represented in the first line)' is owing to no fault of his in the matter of what is right.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 53, Gradual Advance, mean?
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.
Which trigrams form Gradual Advance?
巽 above 艮 — wind over mountain. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 未濟 Not Yet Crossed.
What happens when a line of Gradual Advance changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Gradual Advance in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - — - - — — is Gradual Advance. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.