Gentle Penetration
Upper Trigram:Sun, Gentle Penetration, Mildness, Wind, Wood
Lower Trigram:Sun, Gentle Penetration, Mildness, Wind, Wood
Governing Ruler:Nine in the fifth place
Constitutional Rulers:Bottom six
Six in the fourth place

The Image
Wind following upon wind; the image of Sun. The superior man, in accordance with this, reiterates his orders, and secures the practice of his affairs.

Miscellaneous Signs
Tui shows its scope, but Sun's we do not see.

The Judgement
Sun intimates that under the conditions which it denotes, there will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement in whatever direction. It will be advantageous also to see the great man.

Appended Judgement
Sun shows us the regulation of virtue, the weighing of things, secredly and unobserved, and acting accordingly. Thus Sun appears in doing what is appropriate to time and circumstances.

Commentary
Sun repeated shows how, in accordance with it, (governmental) orders are reiterated. We see that the strong fifth line has penetrated into the central and correct place, and the will of its subject is being carried into effect; we see also the weak lines obedient to the strong ones above them.
It is hence said: 'There will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement in whatever direction. It will be advantageous also to see the great man'.

The Lines and commentaries
Bottom six
Showing its subject now advancing, now receding. It would be advantageous for him to have the firm correctness of a brave soldier.
'Now he advances, now he recedes': his mind is perplexed.
'It would be advantageous for him to have the firmness of a brave soldier': his mind would in that case be well governed.

Nine in the second place
Showing its subject beneath a couch, and employing diviners and excorcists in a way bordering on confusion. There will be good fortune and no error.
The 'good fortune springing from what borders on confusion', is due to the line's central position.
Nine in the third place
Showing its subject penetrating only by violent and repeated efforts. There will be occasion for regret.
The 'regret arising from violent and repeated efforts to penetrate', shows the exhaustion of the will.
Six in the fourth place
Showing all occasion for repentance in its subject passed away. He takes (enough) game for its threefold use, in his hunting.
'He takes game in his hunting, enough for the threefold use of it': he achieves merit.
Nine in the fifth place
To its subject, with firm correctness, there will be good fortune. All occasion for repentance will disappear, and all his movements will be advantageous. There may have been no good beginning, but there will be a good end. Three days before making any changes, let him give notice of them; and three days after, let him reconsider them. There will thus be good fortune.
The good fortune of the subject of this line is owing to its correct position and its being in the centre.
Top-most nine
Showing the representative of penetration beneath a couch, and having lost the axe with which he executed his decisions. However firm and correct he be, there will be evil.
'The representative of penetration is beneath a couch': he is occupying the top-most place, and his powers are exhausted.
'He has lost the axe with which he executed his decisions': though he try to be correct, there will be evil.




1. Ch'ien
Creative Principle

2. K'un
Passive Principle

3. Chun
Initial Difficulties

4. Meng
Youthful Inexperience

5. Hsü
Delay

6. Sung
Conflict

7. Shih
The Army

8. Pi
Seeking Unity

9. Hsiao Ch'u
Minor Restraint

10. Lü
Treading carefully

11. T'ai
Peace

12. P'i
Stagnation

13. T'ung Jen
Companionship

14. Ta Yu
Great Possessions

15. Ch'ien
Modesty

16. Yü
Enthusiasm

17. Sui
Allegiance

18. Ku
Arresting Decay

19. Lin
Approaching

20. Kuan
Contemplation

21. Shih Ho
Biting through

22. Pi
Grace

23. Po
Disintegration

24. Fu
The Turning Point

25. Wu Wang
Innocence

26. Ta Ch'u
Restraining Force

27. I
Nourishment

28. Ta Kuo
Excess

29. K'an
The Abyss

30. Li
Clinging Brightness

31. Hsieh
Influence

32. Heng
Endurance

33. Tun
Withdrawal

34. Ta Chuang
Strength of Greatness

35. Chin
Progress

36. Ming I
Sinking Light

37. Chia Jen
The Family

38. K'uei
Opposition

39. Chien
Obstacles

40. Hsieh
Deliverance

41. Sun
Decrease

42. I
Increase

43. Kuai
Resolution

44. Kou
Coming on

45. Ts'ui
Congregation

46. Sheng
Moving upward

47. K'un
Exhaustion

48. Ching
The Well

49. Ko
Revolution

50. Ting
The Cauldron

51. Chen
Thunderclap

52. Ken
Inaction

53. Chien
Gradual Progress

54. Kuei Mei
Marriageable Maiden

55. Feng
Abundance

56. Lü
The Wanderer

57. Sun
Gentle Penetration

58. Tui
Joy

59. Huan
Dispersal

60. Chien
Restraint

61. Cung Fu
Inner Truth

62. Hsiao Kuo
Small Excess

63. Chi Chi
Completion and After

64. Wei Chi
Before Completion