3. Zhun | Difficulty at the Beginning
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
屯:元亨,利贞;勿用,有攸往。利建侯。
English translation
Zhun / Difficulty at the Beginning: great success and smooth progress, it is beneficial to remain upright; do not act yet, there is somewhere to go. it is beneficial to establish lords.
This is the judgment of Zhun (Difficulty at the Beginning), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time.
Original Chinese text
初九:磐桓,利居贞,利建侯。
English translation
First Nine: circling and hesitating, it is beneficial to remain in constancy, it is beneficial to establish lords.
The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time.
Original Chinese text
六二:屯如邅如,乘马班如。匪寇,婚媾。女子贞不字,十年乃字。
English translation
Second Six: blocked and hesitant, the horses draw back and do not advance. not robbers, a marriage alliance. the woman remains steadfast and does not yet marry, only after ten years does the marriage come about.
The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time.
Original Chinese text
六三:即鹿无虞,惟入于林中。君子几,不如舍;往,吝。
English translation
Third Six: pursuing deer without a guide, only entering deeper into the forest. the noble person reads the signs and is better off stopping; going forward, regret or difficulty.
The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.
Original Chinese text
六四:乘马班如,求婚媾。往,吉,无不利。
English translation
Fourth Six: the horses draw back and do not advance, seeking a marriage alliance. going forward, auspicious, nothing is unfavorable.
The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
Original Chinese text
九五:屯其膏,小贞,吉;大贞,凶。
English translation
Fifth Nine: holding back nourishment and favor, constancy in small matters, auspicious; constancy in great matters, misfortune.
The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction; “misfortune” marks serious risk.
Original Chinese text
上六:乘马班如,泣血涟如。
English translation
Top Six: the horses draw back and do not advance, weeping tears of blood.
The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.