3 · 屯

Hexagram 3, 屯. Original Chinese judgment: 元亨，利貞，勿用有攸往，利建侯。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.

Judgment

元亨，利貞，勿用有攸往，利建侯。

《周易》通行本

Line texts

  1. 初九：磐桓；利居貞，利建侯。
  2. 六二：屯如邅如，乘馬班如。匪寇婚媾，女子貞不字，十年乃字。
  3. 六三：即鹿无虞，惟入于林中，君子幾不如舍，往吝。
  4. 六四：乘馬班如，求婚媾，往吉，无不利。
  5. 九五：屯其膏，小貞吉，大貞凶。
  6. 上六：乘馬班如，泣血漣如。

Tuan commentary

屯，剛柔始交而難生，動乎險中，大亨貞。雷雨之動滿盈。天造草昧，宜建侯而不寧。

维基文库 · 周易 · 屯

Great Image commentary

雲雷屯，君子以經綸。

Small Images · bottom to top

  1. 雖磐桓，志行正也。以貴下賤，大得民也。
  2. 六二之難，乘剛也。十年乃字，反常也。
  3. 即鹿无虞，以從禽也。君子舍之，往吝窮也。
  4. 求而往，明也。
  5. 屯其膏，施未光也。
  6. 泣血漣如，何可長也。

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》

維基文庫 · 周易本義（四庫全書本）卷一

Judgment exegesis

Zhu Xi explains the difficulty of Zhun through plants newly emerging but not yet unfolding. Action amid danger may allow passage, but one must maintain correctness rather than advance hastily.

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts

  1. At the beginning of difficulty, the wish to act cannot easily advance. Yang below occupies a correct position; settle in correctness and gain others through humility.
  2. Yielding yin is centered and correct but rides the firmness of the first yang line, hesitating under obstruction. Discern that the other is not an aggressor, while maintaining correctness and waiting for the proper correspondence.
  3. Yielding yin is neither centered nor correct and has no proper correspondence. Rash pursuit is like entering a forest without a guide; stop on discerning the tendency, since continuing brings hardship.
  4. Yielding yin amid difficulty cannot advance alone but properly corresponds with the first yang line. Actively seek compatible assistance before proceeding, and auspiciousness is possible.
  5. Firm yang is centered and correct in the honored position yet trapped in danger, unable readily to extend benefits below. Correctness can serve small matters, but the conditions for great undertakings are insufficient.
  6. Yielding yin has no correspondence at the end of difficulty. There is nowhere to advance, leaving anxiety and grief; this state cannot endure.

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

Zhun describes the difficulty of things newly coming into being: there is vitality, but order is not yet established. Remain correct, settle the foundations and find someone able to lead affairs, rather than rashly advancing far.

Plain-language reading · Line texts

  1. The beginning is hesitant and obstructed. First steady your position, keep the proper path and establish an order to follow.
  2. Progress is unsettled and repetitive. The newcomer seeks union rather than harm; conditions are unready and patient waiting is needed.
  3. Pursuing a goal without a guide leads further into danger. When the signs are wrong, giving it up is wiser than forcing an advance.
  4. Advance and retreat are temporarily uncertain, but actively seeking suitable cooperation and union can make going forward favorable.
  5. Resources and benefits are hard to distribute widely. Correctness on a small scale is possible; forcing responsibility for too much carries risk.
  6. Difficulty has reached its limit, yet no path forward appears, leaving deep sorrow. Delay has lost the opening for change.

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