47. Kun | Oppression | Zhou Yi | English

困（kùn）：（）亨（hēng），（）贞（zhēn），（）大（dà）人（rén）吉（jí），（）无（wú）咎（jiù），（）有（yǒu）言（yán）不（bù）信（xìn）。（）

Translation: 困 / Oppression: 亨，贞，大人auspicious，no blame，有言不信。.

Reading note: This is the judgment of Kun (Oppression), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

初（chū）六（liù）：（）臀（tún）困（kùn）于（yú）株（zhū）木（mù），（）入（rù）于（yú）幽（yōu）谷（gǔ），（）三（sān）岁（suì）不（bù）觌（dí）。（）

Translation: First Six: Draft rendering: 臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三岁不觌。.

Reading note: The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

九（jiǔ）二（èr）：（）困（kùn）于（yú）酒（jiǔ）食（shí），（）朱（zhū）绂（fú）方（fāng）来（lái），（）利（lì）用（yòng）享（xiǎng）祀（sì）。（）征（zhēng）凶（xiōng）无（wú）咎（jiù）。（）

Translation: Second Nine: 困于酒食，朱绂方来，利用享祀。征misfortuneno blame。.

Reading note: The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “misfortune” marks serious risk.

六（liù）三（sān）：（）困（kùn）于（yú）石（shí），（）据（jù）于（yú）蒺（jí）蔾（lí）。（）入（rù）于（yú）其（qí）宫（gōng），（）不（bú）见（jiàn）其（qí）妻（qī），（）凶（xiōng）。（）

Translation: Third Six: 困于石，据于蒺蔾。入于其宫，不见其妻，misfortune。.

Reading note: The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

九（jiǔ）四（sì）：（）来（lái）徐（xú）徐（xú），（）困（kùn）于（yú）金（jīn）车（chē），（）吝（lìn），（）有（yǒu）终（zhōng）。（）

Translation: Fourth Nine: 来徐徐，困于金车，regret or difficulty，有终。.

Reading note: The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.

九（jiǔ）五（wǔ）：（）劓（yì）刖（yuè），（）困（kùn）于（yú）赤（chì）绂（fú），（）乃（nǎi）徐（xú）有（yǒu）说（shuō），（）利（lì）用（yòng）祭（jì）祀（sì）。（）

Translation: Fifth Nine: Draft rendering: 劓刖，困于赤绂，乃徐有说，利用祭祀。.

Reading note: The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

上（shàng）六（liù）：（）困（kùn）于（yú）葛（gé）藟（lěi），（）于（yú）臲（niè）卼（wù）。（）曰（yuē）动（dòng）悔（huǐ）有（yǒu）悔（huǐ），（）征（zhēng）吉（jí）。（）

Translation: Top Six: 困于葛藟，于臲卼。曰动悔有悔，征auspicious。.

Reading note: The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.

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47. Kun | Oppression

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