Hexagram 57
巽 Xùn
The Gentle Wind
☴ Wind above ☴ Wind
Judgment 卦辭
小亨。利有攸往。利見大人。
Commentary
Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great man. Penetration produces gradual and inconspicuous effects—not by an act of violation but by influence that never lapses. Results of this kind are less striking than those won by surprise attack, but more enduring and more complete. To produce such effects, you must have a clearly defined goal. Only when influence works always in the same direction can the object be attained. Small strength can achieve its purpose only by subordinating itself to an eminent person capable of creating order.
Classical Text
巽巽下巽上 巽，小亨。 利有攸往。 利見大人。
Xun: Xun below, Xun above. Xun: Small Success. Benefit in having somewhere to go. Benefit in seeing a great person.
Image 象
隨風，巽。君子以申命行事。
Winds following one upon another. Spread commands abroad and carry out undertakings. The penetrating quality of wind depends upon its ceaselessness—this is what makes it powerful; time is its instrument. In the same way, a ruler's thought should penetrate the soul of the people. This too requires lasting influence through enlightenment and command. Only when the command has been assimilated is action in accordance with it possible. Action without preparation only frightens and repels.
Lines 爻辭
進退利武人之貞
In advancing and in retreating, the persistence of a warrior furthers. Inborn gentleness is often carried to the point of indecisiveness. A thousand doubts crop up. In such a situation, military decisiveness is proper—resolutely do what order demands. Resolute discipline is far better than irresolute license.
Classical commentary
初六，進退，利武人之貞。
Initial Six: Advancing and retreating. Benefit in the correctness of a military person.
巽在床下用史巫紛若吉無咎
Penetration under the bed. Priests and magicians are used in great number. Good fortune. No blame. At times you must deal with hidden enemies, intangible influences that slink into dark corners and affect people by suggestion. Trace these things back to their most secret recesses. When such elusive influences are brought into the light and branded, they lose their power over people.
Classical commentary
九二，巽在牀下，用史巫紛若，吉，无咎。
Nine in the Second: Compliant beneath the bed. Employing scribes and shamans in profusion—auspicious, no blame.
頻巽吝
Repeated penetration. Humiliation. Penetrating reflection must not be pushed too far, lest it cripple the power of decision. After a matter has been thoroughly pondered, it is essential to form a decision and act. Repeated deliberation brings fresh doubts and scruples, and thereby humiliation, because one shows oneself unable to act.
Classical commentary
九三，頻巽，吝。
Nine in the Third: Repeatedly compliant with a furrowed brow—humiliation.
悔亡田獲三品
Remorse vanishes. During the hunt three kinds of game are caught. When a responsible position and accumulated experience lead one to combine innate modesty with energetic action, great success is assured. When the catch serves all three purposes—offerings, feasting, and everyday consumption—the hunt was especially successful.
Classical commentary
六四，悔亡，田獲三品。
Six in the Fourth: Regret vanishes. In the hunt, three kinds of game are caught.
貞吉悔亡無不利無初有終先庚三日後庚三日吉
Persistence brings good fortune. Remorse vanishes. Nothing that does not further. No beginning, but an end. Before the change, three days. After the change, three days. Good fortune. The moment has been reached when a new direction can be taken. Change and improvement are called for. Such steps must be undertaken with steadfastness. Before a change is made, it must be pondered over again and again. After the change, note carefully how improvements bear the test of actuality.
Classical commentary
九五，貞吉，悔亡，无不利。无初有終。先庚三日，後庚三日，吉。
Nine in the Fifth: Correctness brings auspiciousness, regret vanishes, nothing is unfavorable. No beginning, but there is an end. Three days before geng, three days after geng—auspicious.
巽在床下喪其資斧貞凶
Penetration under the bed. He loses his property and his ax. Persistence brings misfortune. Your understanding is sufficiently penetrating. You follow up injurious influences into the most secret corners. But you no longer have the strength to combat them decisively. Any attempt to penetrate into the personal domain of darkness would only bring harm.
Classical commentary
上九，巽在牀下，喪其資斧，貞凶。
Top Nine: Compliant beneath the bed. Loses the resources and the axe. Correctness brings misfortune.