K'un / Oppression (Exhaustion)

above:Tui The Joyous, Lake
below:K'an The Abysmal, Water

In (the condition denoted by) Khwan there may (yet be) progress and success. For the firm and correct, the (really) great man, there will be good fortune. He will fall into no error. If he make speeches, his words cannot be made good.

Overall Meaning

Oppression, the symbol of repression

The character Khwan presents us with the picture of a tree within an enclosure; 'a plant', according to Williams, 'fading for want of room'; 'a tree', according to Tai Tung, 'not allowed to spread its branches'. However this be, the term conveys the idea of being straitened and distressed; and this hexagram indicates a state of things in which the order and government that would conduce to the well-being of the country can hardly get the development, which, by skillful management on the part of 'the great man' and others is finally secured for them.

Looking at the figure we see that the two central places are occupied by strong lines; but 2 is confined between 1 and 3, both of which are weak, and 5 (the ruler), as well as 4 (his minister), is covered by the weak 6; all which peculiarities are held to indicate the repression or straitening of good men by bad. For the way in which the same view is derived from the great symbolism, see Appendix II, in loc.

The concluding sentence of the Thwan is literally, 'If he speak, he will not be believed'; but the Khang-hsi editors give sufficient reasons for changing one character so as to give the meaning in the translation. 'Actions', not words, are what are required in the case.