蹇
“Limping” — King Wen #39
Obstruction on every side. Halt, turn toward capable allies, and simplify the path.
The Judgment 卦辞
利西南，不利東北；利見大人，貞吉。
In (the state indicated by) Jian advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man. (In these circumstances), with firmness and correctness, there will be good fortune.— The I Ching, trans. James Legge, 1899 (public domain)1
The Six Lines 爻辞
往蹇，來譽。
From the first SIX, divided, we learn that advance (on the part of its subject) will lead to (greater) difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise.
王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故。
The second SIX, divided, shows the minister of the king struggling with difficulty on difficulty, and not with a view to his own advantage.
往蹇，來反。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and returns (to his former associates).
往蹇，來連。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject advancing, (but only) to (greater) difficulties. He remains stationary, and unites (with the subject of the line above).
大蹇，朋來。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject struggling with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming to help him.
往蹇，來碩；吉，利見大人。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject going forward, (only to increase) the difficulties, while his remaining stationary will be (productive of) great (merit). There will be good fortune, and it will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
Reading the Picture
Hexagram 39 places mountain (艮) beneath water (坎) —stillness holding its ground below, water finding its way through hard gaps above. This is why the tradition reads it as “Limping”:obstruction on every side. Halt, turn toward capable allies, and simplify the path Whenever you cast this figure, the classical reading points back to that turning of forces.
Questions About Hexagram 39
What does 蹇 (jiǎn) mean?
Hexagram 39 of the I Ching is named 蹇 (jiǎn), usually rendered "Limping" in English editions. Its figure pairs mountain (艮) below with water (坎) above.
Which trigrams form hexagram 39?
坎 (Water) sits above and 艮 (Mountain) sits below — the classical picture is stillness holding its ground beneath water finding its way through hard gaps.
How is hexagram 39 related to the other hexagrams?
Changing every line of hexagram 39 gives hexagram 38 — 睽 (Polarising). Turned upside down it becomes hexagram 40 — 解 (Taking-Apart). Its nuclear hexagram — the inner pattern of lines 2 through 5 — is hexagram 64 — 未濟 (Not Yet Fording).
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1 Legge, James. The Yi King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (1899), public domain. Classical Chinese from the received Zhouyi text. · For reflection and entertainment — not financial, medical, or life advice.