Upper Trigram
巽 Xùn
Wind — Gentle
Lower Trigram
艮 Gèn
Mountain — Stillness
Classical Texts
The Judgment
The maiden is given in marriage. Good fortune. Persistence furthers. A tree on a mountain develops slowly according to the law of its being and consequently stands firmly rooted. Development proceeds gradually, step by step. Within is tranquility guarding against precipitate actions; without is penetration making development and progress possible. The very gradualness of development makes persistence necessary—persistence alone prevents slow progress from dwindling to nothing.
The Lines
Line 1
The wild goose gradually draws near the shore. The young son is in danger. There is talk. No blame. The shore is the first resting place. A lonely young person just starting out to make their way in life. Since no one comes to help, first steps are slow and hesitant, surrounded by danger. Naturally there is much criticism. But these very difficulties keep you from being too hasty, and progress is successful.
Line 2
The wild goose gradually draws near the cliff. Eating and drinking in peace and concord. Good fortune. The cliff is a safe place on shore. Development has gone a step further. Initial insecurity is overcome, a safe position found, giving enough to live on. This first success brings joyousness. One goes to meet the future reassured. The wild goose calls to its comrades when it finds food—symbol of peace and concord in good fortune.
Line 3
The wild goose gradually draws near the plateau. The man goes forth and does not return. The woman carries a child but does not bring it forth. Misfortune. It furthers one to fight off robbers. The high plateau is dry and unsuitable. Gone too far, contrary to the law of development. If you plunge too rashly into a struggle by your own choice, misfortune results. But if you don't willfully provoke conflict and confine yourself to vigorously maintaining your position, all goes well.
Line 4
The wild goose gradually draws near the tree. Perhaps it will find a flat branch. No blame. A tree is not a suitable place for a wild goose. But if clever, it will find a flat branch on which it can get a footing. Life often brings you into inappropriate situations where it's difficult to hold your own. Being sensible and yielding enables you to discover a safe place, though surrounded by danger.
Line 5
The wild goose gradually draws near the summit. For three years the woman has no child. In the end nothing can hinder her. Good fortune. In a high position, one easily becomes isolated. You are misjudged by the very person on whom you depend. This is the work of deceitful persons who have wormed their way in. Relationships remain sterile; nothing is accomplished. But in further development, misunderstandings are cleared away, reconciliation achieved after all.
Line 6
The wild goose gradually draws near the cloud heights. Its feathers can be used for the sacred dance. Good fortune. Life comes to its end. Work stands completed. The path rises high toward heaven, like wild geese leaving the earth far behind, keeping strict formation. If their feathers fall, they can serve as ornaments in sacred temple dances. The life of one who has perfected themselves is a bright light for the people of earth, who look up to them as an example.
Yilin: Forest of Changes
From Jiao Yanshou's Forest of Changes (焦氏易林) — the verse for Hexagram 53 in its unchanging form. A Han dynasty collection of four-character verses interpreting every hexagram transformation.
別離分散，長子從軍，稚叔就賊，寡老獨居，莫為種瓜。
Parted and scattered in separation. The eldest son goes to war; the youngest follows the rebels. Widowed and old, dwelling alone; do not bother planting melons.
Read full commentary ↓
Wind over mountain returns to itself: Development meets Development, the goose landing where it took flight. Separation and dispersal mark the scene: the eldest son joins the army, the youngest brother falls in with bandits, the aged widow dwells alone, and no one remains to plant the melons. When Development turns upon itself, the gradual process reveals its shadow: slow departure becomes permanent dissolution. Each family member drifts further along a different trajectory until the household is empty. From Development to Development, the pattern intensifies rather than resolves. The wild goose that advances step by step here scatters the flock in every direction. Gradual separation, compounded over time, leaves the planter with no one to harvest.
中文注释
山上有木，漸之自返。別離分散，長子從軍，稚叔就賊，寡老獨居，莫為種瓜。漸之歸漸，緩慢之離散成為永久之解體。家中成員各奔前程：長子戍邊，幼弟入匪，老寡獨坐，瓜田無人。漸之重疊不是漸進之加倍，而是離散之加深。鴻雁本漸進而行，此處卻四散各方。從漸至漸，過程自我強化：每一步漸行漸遠，終至家破人散，種瓜者無人為伴，收穫者亦無從等待。
Related Hexagrams
Same upper trigram: Wind (巽)
Same lower trigram: Mountain (艮)