Hexagram 53
漸 Jiàn
Development
☴ Wind above ☶ Mountain
Judgment 卦辭
女歸吉。利貞。
Commentary
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.
Classical Text
漸艮下巽上 漸，女歸吉，利貞。
Jian (Gradual Advance): Gen below, Xun above. Gradual Advance. The woman's marriage is auspicious. Benefit in Correctness.
Image 象
山上有木，漸。君子以居賢德善俗。
On the mountain, a tree. Abide in dignity and virtue to improve the mores. The tree on the mountain is visible from afar; its development influences the entire region. It does not shoot up like a swamp plant—growth proceeds gradually. Work on influencing people can only be gradual. No sudden influence or awakening has lasting effect. Progress must be quite gradual, and for such progress, personality must acquire influence and weight through careful and constant work on moral development.
Lines 爻辭
鴻漸于干小子厲有言無咎
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.
Classical commentary
初六，鴻漸于干，小子厲，有言，无咎。
Initial Six. The wild goose gradually advances to the riverbank. The young son is in danger. There are words of blame. No fault.
鴻漸于磐飲食衎衎吉
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.
Classical commentary
六二，鴻漸于磐，飲食衎衎，吉。
Six in the Second. The wild goose gradually advances to the large rock. Eating and drinking in contentment. Auspicious.
鴻漸于陸夫征不復婦孕不育凶利禦寇
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.
Classical commentary
《象》曰：夫征不復，離群醜也。婦孕不育，失其道也。利用禦寇，順相保也。
The Image says: The husband goes on campaign and does not return — he separates from his group and kin. The wife is pregnant but does not give birth — she has lost the Way. It is beneficial to ward off enemies — they protect each other through compliance.
鴻漸于木或得其桷無咎
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.
Classical commentary
《象》曰：或得其桷，順以巽也。
The Image says: Perhaps finding a flat branch to perch on — through compliance and deference.
鴻漸于陵婦三歲不孕終莫之勝吉
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.
Classical commentary
九五，鴻漸于陵。婦三歲不孕，終莫之勝，吉。
Nine in the Fifth. The wild goose gradually advances to the hilltop. The wife does not conceive for three years. In the end, nothing can overcome this. Auspicious.
鴻漸于陸其羽可用為儀吉
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.
Classical commentary
上九，鴻漸于陸。其羽可用為儀，吉。
Top Nine. The wild goose gradually advances to the high plateau. Its feathers can be used as ceremonial ornaments. Auspicious.