Hexagram 47
Kun / Oppression (Exhaustion)
困
Meaning and Overview
Chinese Interpretation
（无导读内容）
Line Interpretations
These passages include the core hexagram statement, the six moving line texts, and traditional commentary where available. Read them as layered guidance: the early lines describe the root of the situation, while later lines reveal development, pressure, and outcome.
亨，贞，大人吉，无咎。有言不信。
举行祭祀亨通，占卜结果表明大人吉利，不会有过失。陷入困境的人说话，别人不相信他。
Success. Perseverance. The great man is fortunate. No blame. Words are not believed.
The sacrifice is successful; divination shows the great man is fortunate and without fault. When a person in distress speaks, others do not believe him.
初六，臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三岁不觌。
初六爻，臀部被困在树木中间，被人监禁在幽牢里，三年不能见到外人。
Six at the beginning means: The buttocks are oppressed by the stump of a tree. He enters a dark valley. For three years he sees nothing.
First six: The buttocks are trapped among trees; he is imprisoned in a dark dungeon and cannot see outsiders for three years.
九二，困于酒食，朱绂方来，利用享祀，征凶，无咎。
九二爻，为祭祀用的酒食所困，正好送来了朱绂等祭祀用的祭服，有利于举行祭祀。轻举妄动有凶险，不妄动则不会有过失。
Nine in the second place means: He is oppressed by wine and food. The red knee-cords are just coming. It is favorable to offer sacrifice. To set forth brings misfortune, but no blame.
Second nine: Oppressed by sacrificial wine and food, the red ceremonial garments arrive just in time, favorable for offering sacrifice. Rash action brings danger; without rash action, there is no fault.
《彖》曰：困，刚掩也。险以说，困而不失其所亨，其唯君子乎？贞大人吉，以刚中也。有言不信，尚口乃穷也。
《彖辞》说：《困》卦，刚爻被柔爻阴交所掩。陷于险境而能泰然处之，虽陷困境而仍然不会失去亨通，这只有君子才能做到吧？占卜结果大人吉利，是因为刚爻居于中位。有言不信，是指指望依靠言语来摆脱困境，反而陷入穷困而不能摆脱的境地。
The Commentary says: Oppression means the strong is concealed. In danger yet joyful, oppressed yet not losing what makes for success—is this not the superior man? Perseverance of the great man brings good fortune because the strong occupies the center. Words are not believed—relying on the mouth leads to exhaustion.
The Tuan Commentary says: The Kun hexagram shows the strong line concealed by the weak yin lines. Though in danger, one remains calm; though in difficulty, one does not lose the path to success—only the superior man can do this. The divination result is auspicious for the great man because the strong line occupies the central position. 'Words are not believed' means that relying on words to escape difficulty only leads to deeper exhaustion.
《象》曰：泽无水，困。君子以致命遂志。
《大象辞》说：泽无水的卦象组成《困》卦，君子从《困》卦中获得启示，应该敢于用自己的生命去实现自己的崇高理想。
The Image says: The lake has no water—oppression. The superior man stakes his life to fulfill his will.
The Great Image says: The image of a lake without water forms the Kun hexagram. The superior man learns from it that he should dare to risk his life to realize his noble ideals.
《象》曰：“入于幽谷”，幽不明也。
《小象辞》说：被人监禁在幽牢里，幽暗无光，看不见事物。
The Image says: 'He enters a dark valley'—dark and without light.
The Small Image says: Being imprisoned in a dark dungeon—dark and lightless, unable to see things.
“困于酒食”，中有庆也。
为祭祀的酒食所困，但坚守中正之道会有喜事来临。
'Oppressed by wine and food'—the center brings celebration.
Oppressed by sacrificial wine and food, but adhering to the central and correct path brings joyful events.
“据于蒺藜”，乘刚也。“入于其宫，不见其妻”，不祥也。
困于围墙上栽满蒺藜的监狱内，是因为以阴凌逼阳的缘故。进入他的住室，见不到他的妻子，这是不吉祥的事。
'He rests on thorns'—riding on the strong. 'He enters his house and does not see his wife'—inauspicious.
Oppressed in a prison with walls full of thorns—because the yin encroaches on the yang. Entering his chamber and not seeing his wife—this is an inauspicious matter.
“来徐徐”，志在下也。虽不当位，有与也。
慢慢地来，与民众的志向相合，虽然自己所处的位置不妥当，以阳爻处于阴位，但有初六等爻的配合、支持与帮助啊。
'He comes slowly'—the will is directed downward. Though not in the proper place, there is support.
Coming slowly—aligning with the will of the people. Though his position is not proper (a yang line in a yin place), he has the cooperation, support, and help from lines like the first six.
“劓刖”，志未得也。
因滥施割鼻砍足的刑罚致使人心离散，自己的志向也得不到实现。
'He cuts off his nose and feet'—the will is not yet attained.
Because of excessive punishment like cutting off noses and feet, people's hearts are alienated, and his own will cannot be realized.