Hexagram 47
K'unOppression
Lake (Dui) · Water (Kan)
The image
There is no water in the lake: The image of EXHAUSTION. Thus the superior man stakes his life On following his will.
This hexagram in one line
The lake is above, water below; the lake is empty, dried up. Exhaustion is expressed in yet another way: at the top, a dark line is holding down two light lines; below, a light line is hemmed in between two dark ones. The upper trigram belongs to the principle of darkness, the lower to the principle of light. Thus everywhere superior men are oppressed and held in restraint by inferior men.
Core Meaning
The core judgment of this hexagram.
Lake has no water
Hexagram Judgment
OPPPRESSION. Success. Perseverance. The great man brings about good fortune. No blame. When one has something to say, It is not believed.
Times of adversity are the reverse of times of success, but they can lead to success if they befall the right man. When a strong man meets with adversity, he remains cheerful despite all danger, and this cheerfulness is the source of later successes; it is that stability which is stronger than fate. He who lets his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success. But if adversity only bends a man, it creates in him a power to react that is bound in time to manifest itself. No inferior man is capable of this. Only the great man brings about good fortune and remains blameless. It is true that for the time being outward influence is denied him, because his words have no effect. Therefore in times of adversity it is important to be strong within and sparing of words.
Upper and Lower Trigrams
- Lake (Dui)
- Lake · Joy
- Water (Kan)
- Water · Abysmal
Lines
What each of the six positions expresses.
Classics
Tuan CommentaryThe reasoning behind the judgment.
Oppression means that the hard is covered over. Danger and joy: oppressed, yet one does not lose his place, thus succeeding. Perseverance: the great man brings good fortune because he is hard in the middle. When one has something to say, it is not believed: one values mere talk.
Oppression means that the firm is covered over. Amid danger there is still joy; though oppressed, one does not lose what makes for success. Perseverance of the great person brings good fortune because firmness is in the middle. If one has words that are not believed, it is because empty talk is prized and has reached exhaustion.
Great ImageThe image itself, read as a picture of the situation.
There is no water in the lake: The image of EXHAUSTION. Thus the superior man stakes his life On following his will.
When the water has flowed out below, the lake must dry up and become exhausted. That is fate. This symbolizes an adverse fate in human life. In such times there is nothing a man can do but acquiesce in his fate and remain true to himself. This concerns the deepest stratum of his being, for this alone is superior to all external fate.
Further
Related hexagrams
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Frequently asked questions
What does K'un / Oppression mean in the I Ching?
Times of adversity are the reverse of times of success, but they can lead to success if they befall the right man. When a strong man meets with adversity, he re...
How should I study Hexagram 47 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. When adversity befalls a man, it is important above all things for him to be strong and to overcome the trouble inwardly. If he is weak, the trouble overwhelms him. Instead of proc...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Oppression means that the firm is covered over. Amid danger there is still joy; though oppressed, one does not lose what makes for success. Perseverance of the great person brings good fortune because firmness is in the...
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Original text from the I Ching; translation based on Richard Wilhelm's German version.