Hexagram 3 of 64

Zhūn — Breaking Ground

水雷屯 · Legge: Kun · Water above, Thunder below

Everything is tangled at the start; sort the threads before taking a single step forward.

beginningobstructioncaution

The Judgment

Zhūn. There will be great progress and success, and the advantage will come from being correct and firm. Any movement in advance should not be undertaken. There will be advantage in appointing feudal princes.

Legge’s 1882 translation

Kun (indicates that in the case which it presupposes) there will be great progress and success, and the advantage will come from being correct and firm. (But) any movement in advance should not be (lightly) undertaken. There will be advantage in appointing feudal princes.

The Image

III. (The trigram representing) clouds and (that representing) thunder form Kun. The superior man, in accordance with this, (adjusts his measures of government) as in sorting the threads of the warp and woof.

云雷,屯;君子以经纶。

The Six Lines

The first nine · 初九

The first line, undivided, shows the difficulty in advancing. It will be advantageous for him to abide correct and firm; advantageous to be made a feudal ruler.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The first nine, undivided, shows the difficulty (its subject has) in advancing. It will be advantageous for him to abide correct and firm; advantageous (also) to be made a feudal ruler.

The second six · 六二

The second line, divided, shows distressed and obliged to return; the horses of her chariot seem to be retreating. Not by a spoiler, but by one who seeks her to be his wife. The young lady maintains her firm correctness, and declines a union. After ten years she will be united, and have children.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The second six, divided, shows (its subject) distressed and obliged to return; (even) the horses of her chariot (also) seem to be retreating. (But) not by a spoiler (is she assailed), but by one who seeks her to be his wife. The young lady maintains her firm correctness, and declines a union. After ten years she will be united, and have children.

The third six · 六三

The third line, divided, shows one following the deer without the forester, and only finding himself in the midst of the forest. The superior man, acquainted with the secret risks, thinks it better to give up the chase. If he went forward, he would regret it.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The third six, divided, shows one following the deer without (the guidance of) the forester, and only finding himself in the midst of the forest. The superior man, acquainted with the secret risks, thinks it better to give up the chase. If he went forward, he would regret it.

The fourth six · 六四

The fourth line, divided, shows its subject as a lady, the horses of whose chariot appear in retreat. She seeks, however, the help of him who seeks her to be his wife. Advance will be fortunate; all will turn out advantageously.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The fourth six, divided, shows (its subject as a lady), the horses of whose chariot appear in retreat. She seeks, however, (the help of) him who seeks her to be his wife. Advance will be fortunate; all will turn out advantageously.

The fifth nine · 九五

The fifth line, undivided, shows the difficulties in the way of its subject's dispensing the rich favors that might be expected from him. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune in small things; even with them in great things there will be evil.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The fifth nine, undivided, shows the difficulties in the way of (its subject's) dispensing the rich favors that might be expected from him. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune in small things; (even) with them in great things there will be evil.

The topmost six · 上六

The topmost line, divided, shows with the horses of his chariot obliged to retreat, and weeping tears of blood in streams.

Legge’s 1882 translation

The topmost six, divided, shows (its subject) with the horses of his chariot obliged to retreat, and weeping tears of blood in streams.

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