巽 Xùn [57]

Month 8 Host : 5

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巽: 小亨, 利攸往, 利见大人. Xùn: xiǎo hēng, lì yōu wǎng, lì jiàn dà ren.

Xun intimates that (under the conditions which it denotes) there will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement onward in whatever direction. It will be advantageous (also) to see the great man.

彖传: 重巽以申命, 刚巽乎中正而志行. 柔皆顺乎刚, 是以小亨, 利有攸往, 利见大人. Tuàn zhuàn: Chóng xùn yǐ shēn mìng, gāng xùn hū zhōng zhèng ér zhì xíng. róu jiē shùn hū gāng, shì yǐ xiǎo hēng, lì yǒu yōu wǎng, lì jiàn dà ren.

The double Xun shows how, in accordance with it, (governmental) orders are reiterated. (We see that) the strong (fifth line) has penetrated into the central and correct place, and the will (of its subject) is being carried into effect; (we see also) the weak (first and fourth lines) both obedient to the strong lines (above them). It is hence said, ‘There will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement onward in whatever direction. It will be advantageous also to see the great man.’

象传: 随风, 巽; 君子以申命行事. Xiàng zhuàn: Suí fēng, xùn; jūn zǐ yǐ shēn mìng xíng shì.

(Two trigrams representing) wind, following each other, form Xun. The superior man, in accordance with this, reiterates his orders, and secures the practice of his affairs.

初六: 进退, 利武人之贞. Chū liù: jìn tuì, lì wǔ rén zhī zhēn.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows its subject (now) advancing, (now) receding. It would be advantageous for him to have the firm correctness of a brave soldier.

象传: 进退, 志疑也. 利武人之贞, 志治也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jìn tuì, zhì yí yě. lì wǔ rén zhī zhēn, zhì zhì yě.

‘(Now) he advances, (now) he recedes:’ - his mind is perplexed. ‘It would be advantageous for him to have the firmness of a brave soldier:’ - his mind would in that case be well governed.

九二: 巽在床下, 用史巫纷若, 吉, 无咎. Jiǔ èr: xùn zài chuáng xià, yòng shǐ wū fēn ruò, jí, wú jiù.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows the representative of Sun beneath a couch, and employing diviners and exorcists in a way bordering on confusion. There will be good fortune and no error.

象传: 纷若之吉, 得中也. Xiàng zhuàn: Fēn ruò zhī jí, dé zhòng yě.

'The good fortune springing from what borders on confusion' is due to the position (of the line) in the center.

九三: 频巽, 吝. Jiǔ sān: pín xùn, lìn.

The third ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject penetrating (only) by violent and repeated efforts. There will be occasion for regret.

象传: 频巽之吝, 志穷也. Xiàng zhuàn: Pín xùn zhī lìn, zhì qióng yě.

‘The regret arising from the violent and repeated efforts to penetrate’ shows the exhaustion of the will.

六四: 悔亡, 田获三品. Liù sì: huǐ wáng, tián huò sān pǐn.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows all occasion for repentance (in its subject) passed away. He takes game for its threefold use in his hunting.

象传: 田获三品, 有功也. Xiàng zhuàn: Tián huò sān pǐn, yǒu gōng yě.

‘He takes game in his hunting, enough for the threefold use of it:’ - he achieves merit.

九五: 贞吉悔亡, 无不利. 无初有终, 先庚三日, 后庚三日, 吉. Jiǔ wǔ: zhēn jí huǐ wáng, wú bù lì. wú chū yǒu zhōng, xiān gēng sān rì, hòu gēng sān rì, jí.

The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune (to its subject). All occasion for repentance will disappear, and all his movements will be advantageous. There may have been no (good) beginning, but there will be a (good) end. Three days before making any changes, (let him give notice of them); and three days after, (let him reconsider them). There will (thus) be good fortune.

象传: 九五之吉, 位正中也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ wǔ zhī jí, wèi zhèng zhōng yě.

‘The good fortune of (the subject of) the fifth ‘nine’, undivided,’ is owing to its correct position and its being in the center.

上九: 巽在床下, 丧其资斧, 贞凶. Shàng jiǔ: xùn zài chuáng xià, sàng qí zī fǔ, zhēn xiōng.

The sixth ‘nine’, undivided, shows the representative of penetration beneath a couch, and having lost the ax with which he executed his decisions. However firm and correct he may (try to) be, there will be evil.

象传: 巽在床下, 上穷也. 丧其资斧, 正乎凶也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xùn zài chuáng xià, shàng qióng yě. Sàng qí zī fǔ, zhèng hū xiōng yě.

‘The representative of penetration is beneath a couch:’ - though occupying the topmost place, his powers are exhausted. ‘He has lost the ax with which he executed his decisions:’ - though he try to be correct, there will be evil.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the 象传 Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) ➚ which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.
In the first few paragraphs each gua is described. There follows a section for each of the six possible changing lines which indicate the transformation into another, related gua. The text uses ‘nine’ to refer to a yang line and ‘six’ for a yin line.

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