Hexagram 47 · ䷮
Success. Perseverance. The great person brings good fortune. No blame. If one has words, they are not believed.
Judgment
Success. Perseverance. The great person brings good fortune. No blame. If one has words, they are not believed.
Image
There is no water in the lake: the image of Oppression. The noble person gives up life itself to fulfill the will.
Lines
His buttocks are pierced by a stump. He enters a dark valley. For three years he meets no one. Oppressed by wine and food. Scarlet knee bands are coming. It furthers to use sacrifi...
Oppression. Success. Perseverance. The great man brings good fortune. No blame. When one has something to say, it is not believed.
Success. Perseverance. The great person brings good fortune. No blame. If one has words, they are not believed.
Oppression means that the hard is covered over. Danger and joy: oppressed, yet one does not lose his place, thus succeeding. Perseverance: the great man brings good fortune because he is hard in the middle. When one has something to say, it is not believed: one values mere talk.
Oppression means that the firm is covered over. Amid danger there is still joy; though oppressed, one does not lose what makes for success. Perseverance of the great person brings good fortune because firmness is in the middle. If one has words that are not believed, it is because empty talk is prized and has reached exhaustion.
There is no water in the lake: the image of Exhaustion. The noble person stakes his life on following his will.
There is no water in the lake: the image of Oppression. The noble person gives up life itself to fulfill the will.
His buttocks are pierced by a stump. He enters a dark valley. For three years he meets no one.
His buttocks are pierced by a stump. He enters a dark valley. For three years he meets no one.
Small Image
He enters a dark valley: he is in the dark and not clear.
Entering a dark valley means being unclear.
He is oppressed by wine and food. Scarlet knee bands are just now coming. It furthers to use the sacrifice for expiation. Setting out to bring misfortune. No blame.
Oppressed by wine and food. Scarlet knee bands are coming. It furthers to use sacrifice for expiation. Setting out brings misfortune. No blame.
Small Image
He is oppressed by wine and food: there is celebration in the middle.
Oppressed by wine and food shows celebration in the middle.
A stone wall oppresses him. He relies on thorns and thistles. He enters his house and does not see his wife. Misfortune.
A stone wall oppresses him. He relies on thorns. He enters his house and does not see his wife. Misfortune.
Small Image
He relies on thorns and thistles: he rides on the hard. He enters his house and does not see his wife: this is inauspicious.
Relying on thorns means riding on the hard. Not seeing his wife is inauspicious.
He comes very slowly. He is oppressed by a golden carriage. Humiliation, but there is an end.
He comes very slowly. Oppressed by a golden carriage. Humiliation, but there is an end.
Small Image
He comes very slowly: his will is directed downward. Though his place is not the proper one, he has companions.
Coming slowly shows will directed downward. Not proper place but has companions.
His nose and feet are cut off. He is oppressed by scarlet knee bands. Slowly, joy comes. It furthers to make a sacrifice.
His nose and feet are cut off. Oppressed by scarlet knee bands. Slowly, joy comes. It furthers to make sacrifice.
Small Image
His nose and feet are cut off: his will has not yet been carried out. Slowly joy comes: through the correct middle he receives blessings.
Nose and feet cut off show will not yet carried out. Slow joy comes through correct middle.
He is oppressed by creeping vines. He moves uncertainly and says to himself: 'If I move, I regret it.' If he remains persevering, there is good fortune. Setting out brings good fortune.
Oppressed by creeping vines. He moves uncertainly. If he moves, he regrets it. If persevering, good fortune. Setting out brings good fortune.
Small Image
He is oppressed by creeping vines: his place is not the proper one. If he moves, he regrets it, but good fortune comes: good fortune comes through action.
Oppressed by vines shows improper place. Moving brings regret, but action brings good fortune.
What does K'un / Oppression mean in the I Ching?
Success. Perseverance. The great person brings good fortune. No blame. If one has words, they are not believed.
How should I study Hexagram 47 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. His buttocks are pierced by a stump. He enters a dark valley. For three years he meets no one. Oppressed by wine and food. Scarlet knee bands are coming. It furthers to use sacrifi...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Oppression means that the firm is covered over. Amid danger there is still joy; though oppressed, one does not lose what makes for success. Perseverance of the great person brings good fortune because firmness is in the...
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.