Hexagram 29 · ䷜
The Abysmal repeated represents doubled danger. If you are sincere, you achieve success in your heart, and all undertakings succeed.
Judgment
The Abysmal repeated represents doubled danger. If you are sincere, you achieve success in your heart, and all undertakings succeed.
Image
Water flowing on to reach its goal represents the Abysmal repeated. The noble person cultivates the virtue of the heart and maintains consistency in work.
Lines
Repeated abyss, falling into a pit within the abyss. This misfortune comes from losing the way. The abyss is dangerous. Seek only small matters and do not attempt great things. Com...
The Abysmal repeated. If you are sincere, you have success in your heart, and whatever you do succeeds.
The Abysmal repeated represents doubled danger. If you are sincere, you achieve success in your heart, and all undertakings succeed.
The Abysmal repeated is the double danger. Water flows on continuously; it fills up all places and does not disappear. The way of water is constant danger, yet the heart is not confused. Thus 'if you are sincere, you have success in your heart.' 'And whatever you do succeeds' because the firm moves again and again.
The Abysmal repeated represents double danger. Like water that flows continuously, filling all places without disappearing, the way involves constant danger but the heart remains unconfused. Sincerity brings success in the heart, and all actions succeed through repeated firm movement.
Water flows on uninterruptedly and reaches its goal: the image of the Abysmal repeated. The noble person practices the virtue of his heart and makes his work consistent.
Water flowing on to reach its goal represents the Abysmal repeated. The noble person cultivates the virtue of the heart and maintains consistency in work.
Repetition of the Abysmal. In the abyss one falls into a pit. Misfortune.
Repeated abyss, falling into a pit within the abyss. This misfortune comes from losing the way.
Small Image
Repetition of the Abysmal. One falls into the pit because he has lost the way.
Falling into the pit shows one who has lost the proper way.
The abyss is dangerous. One seeks small matters only.
The abyss is dangerous. Seek only small matters and do not attempt great things.
Small Image
One seeks small matters only, because the firm is not yet in the central place.
Seeking small matters only shows the firm is not yet properly centered.
Coming to the abyss ahead, whether abyss or not abyss, on the brink of a chasm. No blame.
Coming to the abyss ahead, uncertain if it is truly dangerous, on the brink of a chasm. Remain blameless through caution.
Small Image
Coming to the abyss ahead, no blame, because the firm is in the central position and gains honor.
Coming to the abyss with no blame shows the firm properly centered and honored.
A jug of wine, a bowl of rice with it; earthen vessels simply handed in through the window. There is certainly no blame in this.
Simple offerings—a jug of wine, a bowl of rice in earthen vessels passed through the window—bring no blame through sincerity.
Small Image
A jug of wine, a bowl of rice. This is the meeting of firm and yielding in the central position.
Simple offerings show the meeting of firm and yielding in proper balance.
The abyss is not filled to overflowing, it is filled only to the rim. No blame.
The abyss filled only to the rim, not overflowing, brings no blame through proper restraint.
Small Image
The abyss is not filled to overflowing because the central position is not yet great.
Not filling to overflowing shows the central position is not yet fully developed.
Bound with ropes and cords, shut in between thorn-hedged prison walls. For three years one does not succeed in rising. Misfortune.
Bound with ropes, shut between thorn-hedged walls. For three years no success comes. This is misfortune.
Small Image
Bound with ropes and cords, because the firm is divided. For three years one does not succeed in rising because he misses the way.
Being bound shows division of the firm. Three years without rising shows missing the proper way.
What does K'an / The Abysmal mean in the I Ching?
The Abysmal repeated represents doubled danger. If you are sincere, you achieve success in your heart, and all undertakings succeed.
How should I study Hexagram 29 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Repeated abyss, falling into a pit within the abyss. This misfortune comes from losing the way. The abyss is dangerous. Seek only small matters and do not attempt great things. Com...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
The Abysmal repeated represents double danger. Like water that flows continuously, filling all places without disappearing, the way involves constant danger but the heart remains unconfused. Sincerity brings success in t...
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.