Hexagram 47
困 Kùn
Oppression
☱ Lake above ☵ Water
Judgment 卦辭
亨。貞大人吉。无咎。有言不信。
Commentary
Success. Persistence. The great person brings about good fortune. No blame. When you have something to say, it is not believed. Adversity is the reverse of success but can lead to success if it befalls the right person. The strong one remains cheerful despite danger—this cheerfulness is the source of later success, a stability stronger than fate. He who lets his spirit be broken has no success. But if adversity only bends you, it creates a power to react. In times of adversity, be strong within and sparing of words.
Classical Text
困坎下兌上 困，亨。 貞，大人吉，无咎。 有言不信。 「有言不信」者，處困求濟，在於正身脩德。若巧言飾辭，人所不信，則其道彌窮，故誡之以有言不信也。
Kun (Confinement): Kan (Water) below, Dui (Lake) above. Confinement. Success. Correctness. The great person has good fortune and is without blame. If one speaks, one is not believed. As for "if one speaks, one is not believed": when dwelling in confinement and seeking deliverance, it lies in rectifying oneself and cultivating virtue. If one uses clever words and embellished speech, people will not believe it, and one's Way will become ever more impoverished. Therefore the warning says that if one speaks, one is not believed.
Image 象
澤無水，困。君子以致命遂志。
No water in the lake—exhaustion. Stake your life on following your will. When the water has flowed out below, the lake must dry up. This is fate. There is nothing you can do but acquiesce in your fate and remain true to yourself. This concerns the deepest stratum of being, which alone is superior to all external fate.
Lines 爻辭
臀困于株木入于幽谷三歲不覿
Sitting oppressed under a bare tree, straying into a gloomy valley. For three years, sees nothing. When adversity befalls you, be strong and overcome the trouble inwardly. If weak, the trouble overwhelms you. Sitting under a bare tree, falling into gloom and melancholy, makes everything more hopeless. This attitude comes from inner delusion that must be overcome.
Classical commentary
初六，臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三歲不覿。 注云：最處底下，沈滯卑困，居无所安，故曰臀困於株木也。欲之其應，二隔其路，居則困于株木，進不獲拯，必隱遯者也，故曰「入于幽谷」也。困之為道，不過數歲者也。以困而藏，困解乃出，故曰三歲不覿也。
Initial Six: The buttocks are confined by a tree stump. One enters a dark valley. For three years one is not seen. The commentary says: Being situated at the very bottom, sinking and stagnating in lowly confinement, having no place to dwell at ease — therefore it says "the buttocks are confined by a tree stump." Wishing to reach one's corresponding line, but the second line blocks the path. At rest one is confined by the tree stump; advancing, one cannot obtain rescue — one must go into hiding and retreat. Therefore it says "enters a dark valley." The Way of confinement does not last beyond several years. By concealing oneself during confinement, one emerges when the confinement is resolved — therefore it says "for three years one is not seen."
困于酒食朱紱方來利用享祀征凶
Oppressed while at meat and drink. The one with scarlet knee bands is coming. It furthers one to offer sacrifice. To set forth brings misfortune. No blame. Inner oppression while externally all is well. Exhausted by the commonplaces of life with no way of escape. Help comes from a high place. Overcome disagreeable situations by patience of spirit.
Classical commentary
九二，困于酒食，朱紱方來，利用享祀。征凶，无咎。
Nine in the Second: Confined amid wine and food. The crimson ceremonial knee-covers are about to arrive. It is beneficial to make offerings and sacrifices. To advance brings misfortune, but there is no blame.
困于石據于蒺藜入于其宮不見其妻凶
Oppressed by stone, leaning on thorns and thistles. Enters the house and does not see his wife. Misfortune. Restless and indecisive in adversity. You butt your head against a wall and feel oppressed by it. Lean on things without stability. Turn back irresolutely only to find fresh disappointment. If oppressed by what ought not to oppress, disgrace follows.
Classical commentary
六三，困于石，據于蒺蔾，入于其宮，不見其妻，凶。
Six in the Third: Confined by a rock, leaning on thorns. One enters one's dwelling but does not see one's wife. Misfortune.
來徐徐困于金車吝有終
Coming very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage. Humiliation, but the end is reached. You see the need of others and would like to help but begin hesitantly. Drawn into the circle of powerful acquaintances, you can't withdraw. Great embarrassment, but the trouble is transitory. Original strength offsets the mistake; the goal is reached.
Classical commentary
九四，來徐徐，困于金車。吝，有終。
Nine in the Fourth: Coming slowly, slowly — confined by the bronze carriage. Regret, but there is a completion.
劓刖困于赤紱乃徐有說利用祭祀
Nose and feet cut off. Oppression at the hands of the one with purple knee bands. Joy comes softly. It furthers one to make offerings. One who has the good of mankind at heart is oppressed from above and below, finding no help among those whose duty it would be to assist. But little by little, things turn for the better. Until then, turn to what is beyond, firm in inner composure.
Classical commentary
九五，劓刖，困于赤紱，乃徐有說，利用祭祀。
Nine in the Fifth: Nose-cutting and foot-cutting. Confined by the crimson ceremonial knee-covers. Then slowly there is joy. It is beneficial to make sacrifices.
困于葛藟于臲卼曰動悔有悔征吉
Oppressed by creeping vines. Moving uncertainly and saying 'Movement brings remorse.' If you feel remorse over this and make a start, good fortune comes. Oppressed by bonds easily broken. The distress is ending but you're still irresolute, influenced by the previous condition, fearing regret if you move. Grasp the situation, change your mental attitude, make a firm decision—master the oppression.
Classical commentary
上六，困于葛藟，於臲卼，曰動悔有悔，征吉。
Top Six: Confined by creeping vines, upon a precarious height. It says: "Stirring what causes regret, there is regret." To advance brings good fortune.