坎

Hexagram 29 · 坎

Upper trigram: 坎 · Lower trigram: 坎

Kan (Repeated Depth): the hexagram of recurring difficulty. Keep a sincere center, take manageable steps, and practice dependable responses.

The image

Water lies above water, repeating the image of a deep channel. Each trigram holds a firm center between yielding edges. Kan means a pit or depth and evokes difficulty that must be traversed carefully. Water offers the model of continuity without pretending that the passage is easy.

Judgment

有孚，維心亨。行有尚。

There is sincerity. The heart alone finds passage. Action has worth.

The commentary describes water moving through difficulty without losing its reliability. A worker managing repeated complications often benefits from a clear method and honest communication rather than a promise of instant escape.

Great Image

水洊至，習坎；君子以常德行，習教事。

Water arrives repeatedly: Repeated Depth. The exemplary person accordingly keeps conduct constant and practices the work of instruction.

Repeated challenges call for practiced responses. A teacher preparing learners through ordinary exercises develops steadiness that becomes useful when the material grows difficult.

Line texts

  1. Line 1 · 初六

    習坎，入于坎窞，凶。

    Depth upon depth: entering a pit within the pit. Misfortune.

    Six in the first place is yin losing direction at the beginning of difficulty. The Small Image names that loss, like responding to a missed deadline by accepting still more work without a plan.

  2. Line 2 · 九二

    坎有險，求小得。

    In the depth there is danger. Seek small gains.

    Nine in the second place is central yang still within the difficult channel. The Small Image limits its reach, like restoring one clear administrative process before attempting a complete organizational overhaul.

  3. Line 3 · 六三

    來之坎坎，險且枕，入于坎窞，勿用。

    Coming and going, depth after depth. Danger, and an uneasy resting place. Entering a pit within the pit. Do not act.

    Six in the third place is yin between repeated difficulties without a sound foothold. The Small Image finds no achievement in this movement, like pausing a confused negotiation to obtain clear information.

  4. Line 4 · 六四

    樽酒簋貳，用缶，納約自牖，終无咎。

    A jug of wine and two bowls of grain, using earthen vessels. Present pledges through the window. No blame in the end.

    Six in the fourth place is fitting yin meeting firm yang above. The Small Image emphasizes their contact, like a plain, sincere promise restoring trust between a colleague and a manager.

  5. Line 5 · 九五

    坎不盈，祗既平，无咎。

    The pit is not overflowing; it has just reached level. No blame.

    Nine in the fifth place is central yang not yet able to expand broadly. The Small Image keeps its achievement limited, like bringing an overdue workload under control before seeking additional responsibilities.

  6. Line 6 · 上六

    係用徽纆，寘于叢棘，三歲不得，凶。

    Bound with cords and ropes, placed among thorn bushes. For three years no release is obtained. Misfortune.

    Six at the top is yin at difficulty's extreme, having lost its proper course. The Small Image's confinement suggests a project trapped by repeated poor decisions, not a timetable for a reader's personal troubles.

When asking about

Career

Recurring problems often need a reliable process. Work through the nearest manageable step and communicate limitations honestly.

Love

Repeated misunderstandings may need a calmer pattern of discussion. Address one issue without reopening every past disagreement.

Money

Complex obligations tend to need careful records. Seek clarity before accepting another layer of commitment.

Home

Dependable routines can steady a demanding household period. Ask directly for practical help where it is needed.

Study

Repeated practice often helps with difficult material. Break a demanding topic into small, reviewable steps.

Health

A predictable rhythm of rest can make demanding days easier to navigate. See a doctor for any health concern.

Advice

Keep a clear center without denying the difficulty. Practice reliable responses, seek modest progress, and avoid movement that merely deepens confusion.

Related hexagrams

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Reference content based on the I Ching classic, not a prediction.