52 · 艮

Hexagram 52, 艮. Original Chinese judgment: 艮其背，不獲其身，行其庭，不見其人，无咎。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.

Judgment

艮其背，不獲其身，行其庭，不見其人，无咎。

《周易》通行本

Line texts

  1. 初六：艮其趾，无咎，利永貞。
  2. 六二：艮其腓，不拯其隨，其心不快。
  3. 九三：艮其限，列其夤，厲薰心。
  4. 六四：艮其身，无咎。
  5. 六五：艮其輔，言有序，悔亡。
  6. 上九：敦艮，吉。

Tuan commentary

艮，止也。時止則止，時行則行，動靜不失其時，其道光明。艮其止，止其所也。上下敵應，不相與也。是以不獲其身，行其庭不見其人，无咎也。

维基文库 · 周易 · 艮

Great Image commentary

兼山，艮；君子以思不出其位。

Small Images · bottom to top

  1. 艮其趾，未失正也。
  2. 不拯其隨，未退聽也。
  3. 艮其限，危薰心也。
  4. 艮其身，止諸躬也。
  5. 艮其輔，以中正也。
  6. 敦艮之吉，以厚終也。

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）卷二

Judgment exegesis

Zhu Xi explains Gen as yang rising to its limit and stopping. Stopping is not perpetual immobility: stop when the time calls for stopping and act when it calls for action, letting movement and stillness settle in their fitting positions, with quietness as the basis.

Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts

  1. Yielding yin at the beginning of Gen is like stopping the toes first, not yet losing the proper way. Its yielding nature still requires lasting steadfast correctness.
  2. Centered correctness in the second yin line holds the calf muscles still, but its weakness cannot help the excessively firm third line it follows. The third refuses to withdraw and listen, leaving the heart dissatisfied.
  3. The third yang line is excessively firm and not centered, forcibly stopping at the waist and hips. Dividing the body above and below prevents bending and extension; rigid stopping creates extreme unease.
  4. Yin in a yin fourth position stops the whole body at the proper time. Conduct accords with time and position, allowing freedom from blame.
  5. The fifth yin line occupies the mouth’s supporting region and can restrain speech into orderly expression. Yin in a yang position originally brings regret, but maintaining the center removes it.
  6. Firm yang at the extreme of stopping in the top line holds with genuine solidity and concludes the hexagram substantially; hence auspiciousness.

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

Gen concerns stopping. This is not immobility in every circumstance: stop when stopping is called for and act when action is called for, so that both movement and stillness occupy their fitting place. Quietness and knowing when to stop guide the hexagram.

Plain-language reading · Line texts

  1. Stopping the toes first keeps action from leaving the proper way. Because the nature is yielding, lasting correctness is still needed.
  2. The calf muscles are held still, but one cannot help someone excessively firm who refuses advice; this leaves the heart dissatisfied.
  3. Forcing a stop at the waist and hips divides the body above and below and prevents bending or extending. Rigid stopping instead causes unease.
  4. Stopping the whole body when it is appropriate to stop accords with time and position, and is therefore without blame.
  5. Restraining speech gives expression an orderly sequence. Although there was cause for regret, maintaining the center can remove it.
  6. At the culmination of stopping, one holds to it with genuine solidity, bringing a substantial conclusion; this is auspicious.

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