3. Zhun | Difficulty at the Beginning
- Line 1 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 2 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 3 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 4 (from bottom): yin (broken)
- Line 5 (from bottom): yang (unbroken)
- Line 6 (from bottom): yin (broken)
屯：元亨，利贞；勿用，有攸往。利建侯。
Translation: 屯 / Difficulty at the Beginning: great success and smooth progress，it is beneficial to remain upright；do not act yet，有攸往。it is beneficial to establish lords。.
Reading note: 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.
初九：磐桓，利居贞，利建侯。
Translation: First Nine: 磐桓，利居贞，it is beneficial to establish lords。.
Reading note: 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.
六二：屯如邅如，乘马班如。匪寇，婚媾。女子贞不字，十年乃字。
Translation: Second Six: Draft rendering: 屯如邅如，乘马班如。匪寇，婚媾。女子贞不字，十年乃字。.
Reading note: 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.
六三：即鹿无虞，惟入于林中。君子几，不如舍；往，吝。
Translation: Third Six: 即鹿无虞，惟入于林中。君子几，不如舍；往，regret or difficulty。.
Reading note: 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.
六四：乘马班如，求婚媾。往，吉，无不利。
Translation: Fourth Six: 乘马班如，求婚媾。往，auspicious，无不利。.
Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
九五：屯其膏，小贞，吉；大贞，凶。
Translation: Fifth Nine: 屯其膏，小贞，auspicious；大贞，misfortune。.
Reading note: 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.
上六：乘马班如，泣血涟如。
Translation: Top Six: Draft rendering: 乘马班如，泣血涟如。.
Reading note: 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.