Trigrams
☱☵ – Lake above, Water below
Meaning
Represents exhaustion, confinement, and oppressive difficulty. The lake has no water — drained and empty. Yet the noble person maintains dignity and inner strength even in the worst circumstances. This is a time when words are not believed; deeds and inner virtue are what matter.
Interpretation
- Maintain inner dignity and strength even when confined or exhausted.
- In times of oppression, words are not effective; focus on inner cultivation.
- Trust that the period of difficulty will end for those who hold to virtue.
Six Yao (Lines) with Classical Quotes
1st Yao (初爻)
臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三岁不规。
English: Buttocks oppressed on a bare tree stump, entering a dark valley — for three years not seen. The most complete isolation and loss of visibility; a very difficult period of confinement.
Luck Level: Misfortune
2nd Yao (二爻)
困于酒食，朱绣方来，利用享祀，征凶，无咎。
English: Oppressed amid wine and food, the red sash arrives. Beneficial to use this time for offerings and sacrifice. Going forward is misfortune, but no blame. Even in comfortable constraint, advancing recklessly is wrong.
Luck Level: Caution
3rd Yao (三爻)
困于石，据于蓓莉，入于其宫，不见其妻，凶。
English: Oppressed by stone, resting on thorns — entering one's palace, not seeing one's wife. Misfortune. Total confinement where nothing comfortable remains; even home has become a prison.
Luck Level: Misfortune
4th Yao (四爻)
来徐徐，困于金车，吝，有终。
English: Coming very slowly, oppressed in a gilded carriage — regret, but there is an end to it. Even comfortable captivity is still captivity; but this oppression will eventually conclude.
Luck Level: Caution
5th Yao (五爻)
划刺，困于赤绣，乃徐有说，利用祭祠。
English: Nose and feet cut off, oppressed in the red ceremonial garment — gradually relief comes. Beneficial to use this for offerings. The worst humiliation gradually gives way when one maintains spiritual practice.
Luck Level: Neutral
6th Yao (上爻)
困于葛臣，于膲卫，曰动悔有悔，征吉。
English: Oppressed by creeping vines, unsteady and insecure — saying that moving will bring regret, there is regret. But going forward is auspicious. Recognizing that staying in this oppression is the real danger; moving forward is the right choice.
Luck Level: Good