I Ching 29
Kan
Water over Water (Kan)
Judgment
習坎 有孚 維心亨 行 有尙
a prisoner of war was captured and changed his mind. There must be a reward
Interpretation
The Gam hexagram has Gam (Water) in both the upper and lower trigrams. The image of the Gam hexagram is water flowing continuously in both directions. With water both above and below, it symbolizes a very dangerous situation. Gam means "dangerous" or "perilous."
In the commentary, Seup Gam refers to the state of having gone astray, and Bu refers to the ancient character for "booty" or the captured spoils of war. Yu means to bind, specifically referring to the act of capturing someone's heart, changing their mind, or bringing them into submission. Sang refers to a reward or recognition, as seen when the Zhou army captured the Shang soldiers and made them surrender, leading to success and eventual honor.
For someone who receives this hexagram, it signifies that they are currently caught in a swirling, turbulent situation. They are being swept into a whirlpool and are unsure of how to proceed, facing great danger. The situation is perilous, as water is both above and below, and they are caught in a dangerous current, struggling and suffering.
In such a situation, attempting to escape forcefully will only lead to further entanglement. Instead, it is best to wait patiently, allowing the storm to pass. A firm belief that they can navigate through the danger and a resolve to persevere will lead to success. By holding this steadfast determination, they will eventually find success, even within a dangerous fate.
Changing lines
初六 習坎,入于坎萏,凶
Initial Six: Learning to cross the pit, entering the pit, dangerous.
'Seup' refers to overlapping or accumulation, and 'Gam' means a pit. 'Seupgam' suggests pits stacked on top of each other. The remnants of the Yin soldiers hide in a pit, but the troops of the Zhou dynasty enter to capture them, encountering further danger. A person who receives this line in divination is in a situation where they find themselves in an entangled or dangerous situation. The matter inquired about in divination will be inauspicious.
九二 坎有險,求小得.
Nine Second: The pit has danger, seeking small gains.
The character "Disi-ence is tingling" refers to a pit, and "Employment Income" means small gains. The situation described involves soldiers entering a dangerous pit and capturing a few enemy soldiers. The person drawing this hexagram is in a similar situation, where they may find themselves in a risky situation, but the rewards will be limited. The work they are asking about will yield only modest returns.
六三 來之坎,坎險且枕入于坎萏,勿用
Six Third: Coming from the pit, danger and resting in the pit, do not use.
The term "ji" refers to reaching a place, and "chim" refers to a deep pit. This hexagram speaks of a military force entering a dangerous and deep pit, only to encounter more pitfalls. The person receiving this hexagram is in a situation where the challenges keep escalating. The situation is increasingly difficult, and the task should be abandoned.
六四 樽酒簋貳,用缶,納約自牖,終无咎.
Six Fourth: The wine jar and utensils, using a can, lowering through the window, no blame.
The individual is in a situation where they are metaphorically a prisoner, receiving sustenance despite being trapped. While in a difficult and seemingly helpless position, they will continue to survive due to the constant supply of food and drink. As such, the task in question will proceed without fault, and no harm will come from it.
九五 坎不盈,祗既平,无咎
Nine Fifth: The pit is not full, it is already even, no blame.
Zhou’s soldiers fill a pit with earth from a small hill to capture Yin’s remnants, flattening the hill before the pit is full. The task at hand will involve toil, but the work will conclude successfully before the hardship ends.
上六 係用徽纆,寘于叢棘,三歲不得,凶
Top Six: Using a cord and tassels, placed in the thorns, unable to achieve for three years, dangerous.
Yin’s remnants, bound and jailed long without release, face a grim fate. The task at hand traps mind and body in prolonged suffering, with no escape despite struggles, signaling misfortune.