渐 Jiàn Gradual development (Progression) [hexagram 53]
Wind/Wood over Mountain
Wood element
Lunar month: 1 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
渐: 女归吉, 利贞. Jiàn: nǚ guī jí, lì zhēn.
Jian suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune (attending it). There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
彖传: 渐之进也, 女归吉也. 进得位, 往有功也. 进以正, 可以正邦也. 其位刚, 得中也. 止而巽, 动不穷也. Tuàn zhuàn: Jiàn zhī jìn yě, nǚ guī jí yě. jìn dé wèi, wǎng yǒu gōng yě. jìn yǐ zhèng, kě yǐ zhèng bāng yě. qí wèi gāng, dé zhòng yě. zhǐ ér xùn, dòng bù qióng yě.The advance indicated by Jian is (like) the marrying of a young lady which is attended by good fortune. (The lines) as they advance get into their correct places: - this indicates the achievements of a successful progress. The advance is made according to correctness: - (the subject of the hexagram) might rectify his country. Among the places (of the hexagram) we see the strong undivided line in the center. In (the attributes of) restfulness and flexible penetration we have (the assurance of) an (onward) movement that is inexhaustible.
象传: 山上有木, 渐; 君子以居贤德, 善俗. Xiàng zhuàn: Shān shàng yǒu mù, jiàn; jūn zǐ yǐ jū xián dé, shàn sú.(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for a tree form Jian. The superior man, in accordance with this, attains to and maintains his extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.
初六: 鸿渐于干, 小子厉, 有言, 无咎. Chū liù: hóng jiàn yú gān, xiǎo zǐ lì, yǒu yán, wú jiù.
The first ‘six’, divided, shows the wild geese gradually approaching the shore. A young officer (in similar circumstances) will be in a position of danger, and be spoken against; but there will be no error.
象传: 小子之厉, 义无咎也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xiǎo zǐ zhī lì, yì wú jiù yě.‘The danger of a small officer (as represented in the first line)’ is owing to no fault of his in the matter of what is right.
六二: 鸿渐于磐, 饮食衎衎, 吉. Liù èr: hóng jiàn yú pán, yǐn shí kàn kàn, jí.The second ‘six’, divided, shows the geese gradually approaching the large rocks, where they eat and drink joyfully and at ease. There will be good fortune.
象传: 饮食衎衎, 吉, 不素饱也. Xiàng zhuàn: Yǐn shí kàn kàn, jí, bù sù bǎo yě.‘They eat and drink joyfully and at ease:’ - but not without having earned their food.
九三: 鸿渐于陆, 夫征不复, 妇孕不育, 凶; 利御寇. Jiǔ sān: hóng jiàn yú lù, fū zhēng bù fù, fù yùn bù yù, xiōng; lì yù kòu.
The third ‘nine’, undivided, shows them gradually advanced to the dry plains. (It suggests also the idea of) a husband who goes on an expedition from which he does not return, and of a wife who is pregnant, but will not nourish her child. There will be evil. (The case symbolized) might be advantageous in resisting plunderers.
象传: 夫征不复, 离群丑也. 妇孕不育, 失其道也. 利用御寇, 顺相保也. Xiàng zhuàn: Fū zhēng bù fù, lí qún chǒu yě. fù yùn bù yù, shī qí dào yě. lì yòng yù kòu, shùn xiāng bǎo yě.‘A husband goes and does not return:’ - he separates himself from his comrades. ‘A wife is pregnant, but will not nourish her child:’ - she has failed in her (proper) course. ‘It might be advantageous in resisting plunderers:’ - by acting as here indicated men would preserve one another.
六四: 鸿渐于木, 或得其桷, 无咎. Liù sì: hóng jiàn yú mù, huò dé qí jué, wú jiù.
The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the trees. They may light on the flat branches. There will be no error.
象传: 或得其桷, 顺以巽也. Xiàng zhuàn: Huò dé qí jué, shùn yǐ xùn yě.‘They may light on the flat branches:’ - there is docility (in the line) going on to flexible penetration.
九五: 鸿渐于陵, 妇三岁不孕, 终莫之胜, 吉. Jiǔ wǔ: hóng jiàn yú líng, fù sān suì bù yùn, zhōng mò zhī shèng, jí.The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the high mound. (It suggests the idea of) a wife who for three years does not become pregnant; but in the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. There will be good fortune.
象传: 终莫之胜, 吉; 得所也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhōng mò zhī shèng, jí; dé suǒ yě.‘In the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. There will be good fortune:’ - (the subject of the line) will get what he desires.
上九: 鸿渐于陆, 其羽可用为仪, 吉. Shàng jiǔ: hóng jiàn yú lù, qí yǔ kě yòng wéi yí, jí.The sixth ‘nine’, undivided, shows the geese gradually advanced to the large heights (beyond). Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune.
象传: 其羽可用为仪, 吉; 不可乱也. Xiàng zhuàn: Qí yǔ kě yòng wéi yí, jí; bù kě luàn yě.‘Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune:’ - (the object and character of the subject of the line) cannot be disturbed.