Hexagram 52: Gèn (Keeping Still)
艮为山 · 第 52 卦 · Mountain over Mountain · 中文版
The Judgment
When one's resting is like that of the back, and he loses all consciousness of self; when he walks in his courtyard, and does not see any (of the persons) in it,--there will be no error.
艮：艮其背，不获其身，行其庭，不见其人，无咎。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
Gen denotes stopping or resting; - resting when it is the time to rest, and acting when it is the time to act. When one's movements and restings all take place at the proper time for them, his way (of proceeding) is brilliant and intelligent. Resting in one's resting-point is resting in one's proper place. The upper and lower (lines of the hexagram) exactly correspond to each other, but are without any interaction; hence it is said that '(the subject of the hexagram) has no consciousness of self; that when he walks in his courtyard, he does not see (any of) the persons in it; and that there will be no error.'
彖曰：艮，止也。时止则止，时行则行，动静不失其时，其道光明。艮其止，止其所也。上下敌应，不相与也。是以不获其身，行其庭不见其人，无咎也。
The Great Image
(Two trigrams representing) a mountain, one over the other, form Gen. The superior man, in accordance with this, does not go in his thoughts beyond the (duties of the) position in which he is.
象曰：兼山，艮；君子以思不出其位。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first SIX, divided, shows its subject keeping his toes at rest. There will be no error; but it will be advantageous for him to be persistently firm and correct.
'He keeps his toes at rest:' - he does not fail in what is correct (according to the idea of the figure).
初六：艮其趾，无咎，利永贞。 象曰：艮其趾，未失正也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second SIX, divided, shows its subject keeping the calves of his legs at rest. He cannot help (the subject of the line above) whom he follows, and is dissatisfied in his mind.
'He cannot help him whom he follows:'(he whom he follows) will not retreat to listen to him.
六二：艮其腓，不拯其随，其心不快。 象曰：不拯其随，未退听也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject keeping his loins at rest, and separating the ribs (from the body below). The situation is perilous, and the heart glows with suppressed excitement.
'He keeps the loins at rest:' - the danger (from his doing so) produces a glowing, heat in the heart.
九三：艮其限，列其夤，厉熏心。 象曰：艮其限，危薰心也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject keeping his trunk at rest. There will be no error.
'He keeps the trunk of his body at rest:' - he keeps himself free (from agitation).
六四：艮其身，无咎。 象曰：艮其身，止诸躬也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): S. The fifth SIX, divided, shows its subject keeping his jawbones at rest, so that his words are (all) orderly. Occasion for repentance will disappear.
'He keeps his cheek bones at rest:' - in harmony with his central position he acts correctly.
六五：艮其辅，言有序，悔亡。 象曰：艮其辅，以中正也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject devotedly maintaining his restfulness. There will be good fortune.
'There is good fortune through his devotedly maintaining his restfulness:' - to the end he shows himself generous and good.
上九：敦艮，吉。 象曰：敦艮之吉，以厚终也。 · 单爻页
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.