Kun

Judgment

困 亨 貞 大人 吉 无咎 有言 不信

Gon is prosperous. Advisor is good and without fault. There are words, but do not believe it.

Interpretation

The Kon Hexagram has Tae (Lake) in the upper trigram and Gam (Water) in the lower trigram. Tae represents a lake, and Gam represents water. The image of the Kon hexagram is that water is beneath the lake. The water seeps into the earth below the lake, leaving the lake without water. Without water in the lake, aquatic plants and fish will dry up and die, which represents a situation of distress. Kon means to fall into a predicament.

In the commentary, the Dae-in refers to a person in a high position. Eon uses the character for Geon, which means guilt, and Shin refers to spreading or revealing something. This implies that a person should clearly admit their guilt. The great person locks the guilty in prison, which is a form of prosperity. The great person's judgment is favorable and without error.

For someone consulting this hexagram, it indicates a time when the person is in a mental or material predicament, facing an overwhelming, hopeless situation and suffering. The water in the lake has seeped into the earth, leaving the lake dry. Aquatic plants and fish are dying, and the scenery is bleak. This symbolizes a situation where, in real life, one is in extreme poverty or distress, and any efforts to improve the situation often lead to deeper trouble. There may be financial hardship, doubts about love in personal relationships, a lack of abilities, and the burden of misunderstandings or bad reputations. This may cause feelings of despair and hopelessness.

In such unfavorable circumstances, one must reflect on their flaws, hold on to firm beliefs, abandon unrealistic dreams, and practice patience and introspection. By doing so, one can gradually begin to recover from the predicament.

初六 臀困于株木,入于幽谷,三歲不覿, (凶).

Initial Six: Stuck in the root, enters the valley, unseen for three years, misfortune.

The "Dun" refers to the buttocks, and "Gun" refers to suffering. "Taxus cuspidata" refers to a wooden stick used for punishment, and "Yugoslav" means prison. A person who receives this line is in a situation where they are being punished and imprisoned for a long time. If one fails to manage their emotions, they will endure prolonged suffering.

九二 困于酒食,朱紱方來,利用享祀,征凶,无咎

Nine Two: Stuck in food and drink, a red robe approaches, use for sacrifices, danger, no fault.

The term "Gon Woo-seok" refers to excessive drinking and eating. The "Zubul" is a ceremonial garment given by the emperor. This hexagram indicates that an individual receives a gift for overcoming a difficult situation. It is a good time to express gratitude to ancestors and avoid displaying wealth arrogantly.

六三 困于石,據于蒺藜入于其宮,不見其妻,凶

Six Three: Stuck in the stone, relying on thornbushes, entering the palace, not seeing the wife, misfortune.

The term "Gonwooseok" refers to being bound to a stone. In ancient times, criminals were bound to stones and subjected to punishment. The person asking about the hexagram is in a situation where they have suffered severe hardship, facing a great loss and feeling abandoned. The task will lead to a difficult and pitiable situation.

九四 來徐徐,困于金車,吝,有終

Nine Four: Coming gradually, stuck in the golden chariot, regret exists, but the end is.

Progress is slow due to hardships, yet success will come. The task at hand is difficult but will ultimately be achieved.

九五 劓刖,困于赤紱,乃徐有說,利用祭祀

Nine Five: A sharp cut, stuck in the red robe, gradually opens, use for sacrifices.

A prisoner, tormented by a noble in red, loses nose and legs but gradually escapes, benefiting from ancestral gratitude. The task at hand will bring physical suffering and hardship, yet ancestral protection will slowly free you, proving beneficial.

上六 困于葛虆, (據)于臲卼,曰動悔有悔,征吉。

Top Six: Stuck in the vines, speaking with remorse, journeying with good fortune.

A sinner, jailed amid vines and stakes, regrets every move to escape. The task at hand is bleak, and struggling only deepens remorse, though release brings fortune.