蒙 → 漸

Commentary

A spring beneath the mountain watches helplessly as creatures fail at their most basic functions. A bird tries to fly but has no wings; a hare tries to run but its legs snap. Though one longs to gather with companions, the desired union cannot be achieved. Every capacity is stripped away at the moment of need — flight without feathers, speed without legs. From Youthful Folly to Development, the contrast is painful. Wind atop the mountain should foster the slow, organic growth of trees — gradual development toward maturity. Yet this figure lacks even the minimum apparatus to begin. Development requires a foundation; without wings or working limbs, there is nothing for patience to cultivate. The naif must first acquire the tools before the path of gradual progress can open.