47. K´un

	Exhaustion
	Upper Trigram:	Tui, Joy, a Lake
	Lower Trigram:	K'an, the Abyss, Water, Danger
	Governing Rulers:	Nine in the second place Nine in the fifth place

The Image
Wood growing upwards in the earth: The image of Sheng. The superior man, in accordance with this, pays careful attention to his virtue, and accumulates the small developments of it, till it is high and great.

Miscellaneous Signs
Progress in Ching in K'un encounters blight.

The Judgement
In the condition denoted by K'un, there may yet be progress and success. For the firm and correct, the really great man, there will be good fortune. He will fall into no error. If he make speeches, his words cannot be made right, and he will not be believed.

Appended Judgement
In K'un we have virtue's excercise of discrimination, and the pressure of extreme difficulty, ending in a free course. K'un also appears in the diminution of resentments.

See also: Ta Chuan - Section 2, Chapter VII-2,3,4.

Commentary
In K'un we see the strong lines covered and obscured by the weak. We have in it the attribute of danger going on to that of satisfaction. Who is it but the superior man that, though straitened, still does not fail to make progress to his proper end?
'For the firm and correct, the really great man, there will be good fortune': this is shown by the central positions of the strong lines.
'If he make speeches, his words cannot be made right': to be fond of arguing or pleading is the way to be reduced to extremity.

The Lines and commentaries
Bottom six
Showing its subject with bare buttocks straitened under the stump of a tree. He enters a dark valley, and for three years has no prospect of deliverance.

'He enters a dark valley': so benighted is he, and without clear vision.

Nine in the second place
Showing one straitened amidst his wine and viands. There come to him soon the red knee-covers of the ruler. It will be well for him to be as sincere as in sacrificing. Active operations on his part will lead to evil, but he will be free from blame.

'He is straitened amidst his wine and viands': but his position is central, and there will be ground for congratulation.

Six in the third place
Showing its subject straitened before a rock. He lays hold of thorns. He enters his palace and does not see his wife. There will be evil.

See also: Ta Chuan - Section 2, Chapter V-5.

'He lays hold of thorns': this is suggested by its resting on the strong line.
'He enters his palace and does not see his wife': this is inauspicious.

Nine in the fourth place
Proceeding very slowly to the help of his correlate, who is straitened by the carriage adorned with metal in front of him. There will be occasion for regret, but the end will be good.

'He proceeds very slowly to the help of his correlate': his aim is directed to help him. Although he is not in his proper place, he and the other will in the end be together.

Nine in the fifth place
Showing its subject with his nose and feet cut off. He is straitened by his ministers in their scarlet aprons. He is leisurely in his movements, however, and is satisfied. It will be well for him to be as sincere as in sacrificing to Spiritual Beings.

'His nose and feet are cut off': his aim has not yet been gained.
'He is leisurely, however, in his movements and is satisfied': his position is central and correct.
'It will be well for him to be as sincere as in sacrificing': so shall he receive blessing.

Top-most six
He is straitened, as if bound with creepers; or in a high and dangerous position, and saying to himself: 'If I move, I shall repent it'. If he do repent of former errors, there will be good fortune in his going forward.

'He is straitened as if bound with creepers': his spirit and action are unsuitable.
'He says: "If I move, I shall repent it". And he does repent of former errors, which leads to good fortune.': so now he goes on.