Hexagram 52 · ䷳
Keeping Still. Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. He goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.
Judgment
Keeping Still. Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. He goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.
Image
Mountains standing close together represent Keeping Still. The noble person does not permit thoughts to go beyond his situation.
Lines
Keeping his toes still. No blame. It furthers to be persevering. Keeping his calves still. He cannot rescue him whom he follows. His heart is not glad. Keeping his hips still. Maki...
Keeping Still. Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. He goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.
Keeping Still. Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. He goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.
Keeping Still means stopping. When it is time to stop, then stop. When it is time to advance, then advance. Movement and rest do not miss the right time; his path is bright and clear. Keeping Still means stopping where one should stop. Above and below are in opposition, they do not give to each other. Thus one no longer feels his body; he goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.
Keeping Still means stopping. When it is time to stop, stop; when it is time to advance, advance. Movement and rest do not miss the right time; the path is bright and clear. Stopping where one should stop.
Mountains standing close together: the image of Keeping Still. The noble person does not permit his thoughts to go beyond his situation.
Mountains standing close together represent Keeping Still. The noble person does not permit thoughts to go beyond his situation.
Keeping his toes still. No blame. It furthers to be persevering.
Keeping his toes still. No blame. It furthers to be persevering.
Small Image
Keeping his toes still means that he has not yet lost the right mean.
Keeping toes still means not yet losing the right mean.
Keeping his calves still. He cannot rescue him whom he follows. His heart is not glad.
Keeping his calves still. He cannot rescue him whom he follows. His heart is not glad.
Small Image
He cannot rescue him whom he follows: he does not listen to him in retreat.
Cannot rescue him whom he follows means not listening in retreat.
Keeping his hips still. Making his sacrum stiff. Danger enters into the heart.
Keeping his hips still. Making his sacrum stiff. Danger enters into the heart.
Small Image
Keeping his hips still: danger enters into the heart.
Keeping hips still means danger enters into the heart.
Keeping his trunk still. No blame.
Keeping his trunk still. No blame.
Small Image
Keeping his trunk still: he stops himself.
Keeping trunk still means stopping himself.
Keeping his jaws still. The words are well-ordered. Remorse disappears.
Keeping his jaws still. The words are well-ordered. Remorse disappears.
Small Image
Keeping his jaws still: the words are well-ordered because he holds to the middle.
Keeping jaws still with well-ordered words means holding to the middle.
The most devoted keeping still. Good fortune.
The most devoted keeping still. Good fortune.
Small Image
The most devoted keeping still brings good fortune: he ends in greatness.
Most devoted keeping still brings good fortune—ending in greatness.
What does Kên / Keeping Still mean in the I Ching?
Keeping Still. Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. He goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.
How should I study Hexagram 52 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Keeping his toes still. No blame. It furthers to be persevering. Keeping his calves still. He cannot rescue him whom he follows. His heart is not glad. Keeping his hips still. Maki...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Keeping Still means stopping. When it is time to stop, stop; when it is time to advance, advance. Movement and rest do not miss the right time; the path is bright and clear. Stopping where one should stop.
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.