Jian
Patient Development
When you receive Hexagram 53, Jian, the I Ching turns your attention to patient development. Gradual progress. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.
The Judgment
Gradual progress. The marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune attending it. It furthers to being firm and correct.
Classical (Legge)Kien suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune (attending it). There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
The Image
A tree upon the mountain. Jian. One who is centered attains to and maintains extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.
Classical (Legge)(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for a tree form Kien. The superior man, in accordance with this, attains to and maintains his extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.
The Changing Lines
The wild geese gradually approach the shore. A young officer in such circumstances will be in a position of danger and be spoken against, but there will be no error.
Classical (Legge)The wild geese gradually approach 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 geese have gradually advanced to the large rocks, where they eat and drink joyfully and at ease. There will be good fortune.
Classical (Legge)The geese have gradually advanced to the large rocks, where they eat and drink joyfully and at ease. There will be good fortune.
The geese gradually advance to the dry plains. A husband goes on an expedition from which he does not return. A wife is pregnant but will not nourish her child. There will be misfortune. It furthers to resisting plunderers.
Classical (Legge)The geese gradually advance to the dry plains. (It suggests 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. (But) there will be advantage in resisting plunderers.
The geese gradually advance to the trees. They may light on the flat branches. There will be no error.
Classical (Legge)The geese gradually advance to the trees. They may light on the flat branches. There will be no error.
The geese gradually advance to the high mound. The wife, for three years, does not become pregnant. In the end nothing can hinder her doing so. There will be good fortune.
Classical (Legge)The geese gradually advance to the high mound. (But) the wife, for three years, does not become pregnant. In the end nothing can hinder (her doing so). There will be good fortune.
The geese gradually advance to the large heights beyond. Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune.
Classical (Legge)The geese gradually advance to the large heights (beyond). Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune.
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