Hexagram 53: Jiàn (Gradual Progress)
风山渐 · 第 53 卦 · Wind over Mountain · 中文版
The Judgment
Jian suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune (attending it). There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
渐：女归吉，利贞。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
The advance indicated by Jian is (like) the marrying of a young lady which is attended by good fortune. (The lines) as they advance get into their correct places: - this indicates the achievements of a successful progress. The advance is made according to correctness: - (the subject of the hexagram) might rectify his country. Among the places (of the hexagram) we see the strong undivided line in the centre. 'In (the attributes of) restfulness and flexible penetration we have (the assurance of) an (onward) movement that is inexhaustible.
彖曰：渐之进也，女归吉也。进得位，往有功也。进以正，可以正邦也。其位刚得中也。止而巽，动不穷也。
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for a tree form Jian. The superior man, in accordance with this, attains to and maintains his extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.
象曰：山上有木，渐；君子以居贤德，善俗。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first SIX, divided, shows the wild geese gradually approaching the shore. A young officer (in similar circumstances) will be in a position of danger, and be spoken against; but there will be no error.
'The danger of a small officer (as represented in the first line)' is owing to no fault of his in the matter of what is right.
初六：鸿渐于干，小子厉，有言，无咎。 象曰：小子之厉，义无咎也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second SIX, divided, shows the geese gradually approaching the large rocks, where they eat and drink joyfully and at ease. There will be good fortune.
'They eat and drink joyfully and at ease:' - but not without having earned their food.
六二：鸿渐于磐，饮食衎衎，吉。 象曰：饮食衎衎，不素饱也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third NINE, undivided, shows them gradually advanced to the dry plains. (It suggests also the idea of) a husband who goes on an expedition from which he does not return, and of a wife who is pregnant, but will not nourish her child. There will be evil. (The case symbolised) might be advantageous in resisting plunderers.
'A husband goes and does not return:' - he separates himself from his comrades. 'A wife is pregnant, but will not nourish her child:' - she has failed in her (proper) course. 'It might be advantageous in resisting plunderers:' - by acting as here indicated men would preserve one another.
九三：鸿渐于陆，夫征不复，妇孕不育，凶；利御寇。 象曰：夫征不复，离群丑也。妇孕不育，失其道也。利用御寇，顺相保也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth SIX, divided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the trees. They may light on the flat branches. There will be no error.
'They may light on the flat branches:' - there is docility (in the line) going on to flexible penetration.
六四：鸿渐于木，或得其桷，无咎。 象曰：或得其桷，顺以巽也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth NINE, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the high mound. (It suggests the idea of) a wife who for three years does not become pregnant; but in the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. There will be good fortune.
'In the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. There will be good fortune:' - (the subject of the line) will get what he desires.
九五：鸿渐于陵，妇三岁不孕，终莫之胜，吉。 象曰：终莫之胜，吉；得所愿也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The sixth NINE, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the large heights (beyond). Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune.
'Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune:' - (the object and character of the subject of the line) cannot be disturbed.
上九：鸿渐于陆，其羽可用为仪，吉。 象曰：其羽可用为仪，吉；不可乱也。 · 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.