29 · 坎
Hexagram 29, 坎. Original Chinese judgment: 習坎，有孚，維心亨，行有尚。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.
Judgment
習坎，有孚，維心亨，行有尚。
Line texts
- 初六：習坎，入于坎窞，凶。
- 九二：坎有險，求小得。
- 六三：來之坎坎，險且枕，入于坎窞，勿用。
- 六四：樽酒簋貳，用缶，納約自牖，終无咎。
- 九五：坎不盈，祗既平，无咎。
- 上六：係用徽纆，寘于叢棘，三歲不得，凶。
Tuan commentary
習坎，重險也。水流而不盈，行險而不失其信。維心亨，乃以剛中也。行有尚，往有功也。天險不可升也，地險山川丘陵也，王公設險以守其國，坎之時用大矣哉！
Great Image commentary
水洊至，習坎；君子以常德行，習教事。
Small Images · bottom to top
- 習坎入坎，失道凶也。
- 求小得，未出中也。
- 來之坎坎，終无功也。
- 樽酒簋貳，剛柔濟也。
- 坎不盈，中未大也。
- 上六失道，凶三歲也。
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese
Working translation of this site’s Chinese summaries based on traditional sources, not verbatim quotations from the commentator or a translation of the classical text. Native-language review is incomplete. Traditional imagery is not medical, legal or other professional advice.
朱熹《周易本義》
Judgment exegesis
Zhu Xi explains Repeated Kan through two Kan trigrams, yang enclosed by yin, with broken outer lines and a solid central line in each trigram. Amid repeated danger, maintain inner trustworthiness and consistent action, seeking passage and accomplishment through firm strength at the center.
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts
- Yielding yin at the bottom of repeated danger is already within Kan and falls into a deeper pit. Losing the proper way of responding to danger makes this inauspicious.
- The second yang line remains amid repeated danger and cannot yet escape completely. Fortunately firm yang holds the center, allowing small, local gains first.
- Yielding yin in the third line lacks centered correctness at the junction of two dangers. Danger ahead and behind deepens the trap; action achieves nothing, hence the instruction not to act.
- The fourth yin line is close to the fifth yang line, joining yielding and firmness in danger. Modest offerings with sincerity seek passage where understanding is possible, ultimately avoiding blame.
- Firm, centered correctness in the honored fifth position has not yet completely leveled the danger, but the time approaches escape. Moving toward restoration can avoid blame.
- Yielding yin at the extreme of danger is like someone bound with ropes among thorns, unable to escape for a long time. The root cause is losing the proper way.
Plain-language reading
Working translation of this site’s Chinese editorial reading, not an edition of the classical text, a verbatim quotation from a commentator or a prediction. Native-language review is not yet complete.
Judgment introduction
Repeated Kan consists of two layers of danger and describes responding to successive hazards. Sincerity within and consistency in action matter: firm strength that holds to the center seeks a way through step by step, rather than pretending danger does not exist.
Plain-language reading · Line texts
- Already amid danger, one falls into an even deeper pit, showing that the proper way of responding to danger has been lost.
- Danger has not yet been fully escaped, but the center can be maintained. First seek small, practical gains within the immediate situation.
- Danger lies both ahead and behind, and the position is neither centered nor correct. Further action would achieve nothing; one should stop.
- Amid danger, connect through simple forms and genuine sincerity, seeking passage where communication is possible; in the end there is no blame.
- The dangerous hollow is not yet completely filled, but escape is close. Moving toward a level, settled state can avoid blame.
- At the extreme of danger, one is like someone bound by ropes and trapped among thorns, unable to escape for a long time. The root lies in losing the proper way.