水雷屯
万事开头难,宜守不宜进
The Judgment
Difficulty at the Beginning: sublime success, furthered by perseverance. Undertake no distant venture; it is favorable to set up helpers.
This sign marks the hard birth of all things at their first sprouting, when vital energy is abundant but obstacles crowd on every side. Proceed step by sure step and gather able people around you; do not plunge ahead recklessly.
云雷屯,君子以经纶。
屯,刚柔始交而难生,动乎险中,大亨贞。雷雨之动满盈,天造草昧,宜建侯而不宁。
Interpretation(original text)
「屯」本义为草木初生、艰难萌芽,字形象草穿地而出之难。《序卦》曰「有天地然后万物生焉,盈天地之间者唯万物」。屯卦描绘万物初生之际,充满混沌与艰难,但也蕴藏无限生机。程颐谓「屯者,物之始生也」。
上坎水、下震雷。雷动于水下,春雷初响而雨雪纷飞,万物欲生而未畅之象。坎为险、震为动,险中有动,动而遇险。《象传》曰「云雷,屯;君子以经纶」——面对初创之艰难,君子应当筹谋布局、理出头绪。
初九为卦主之一,阳居阳位得正,震之主爻,为创始之力。九五亦为卦主,阳居阳位得中得正,然坎中之阳困于阴中。六二柔顺中正,与九五相应,但「屯如邅如」,艰难前行。六三失位而乘刚,有冒进之险。
屯为第三卦,承乾坤而来,为万物初生之卦。《序卦》曰「有天地然后万物生焉,盈天地之间者唯万物,故受之以屯。屯者,盈也」。屯与蒙为相综之卦对——屯为初生之难,蒙为蒙昧待启。韩康伯谓「屯者,天地初交而难生也」。
The Lines
Halting and circling. It is favorable to abide in what is upright; it is favorable to set up helpers.
At the outset you hesitate and mark time. Rest in the upright way and forge good bonds widely, laying a firm foundation.
Image: 虽磐桓,志行正也。以贵下贱,大得民也。
初九为屯卦之始,阳居阳位得正,处震卦之初,为万物初动之力。「磐桓利居贞,利建侯」——初创之时宜稳固根基,不可急进。初九与六四相应,有贵人之助。程颐言「处屯之初,不可以躁动也」。磐桓者,徘徊不进之貌。
Struggling and faltering, riding out and turning back. Not a robber, but a suitor. The maiden stays true and does not pledge; after ten years she pledges.
Caught between advance and retreat, you circle in place. What looks like deadlock is really a waiting for the right union. Hold to the upright way, and when the time is ripe the matter comes to fruition.
Image: 六二之难,乘刚也。十年乃字,反常也。
六二居下卦之中,阴居阴位得正得中,柔顺中正之美。然「屯如邅如」,艰难辗转。六二与九五相应,正应之吉,但坎险阻隔,十年不字(不嫁)方终获应合。「女子贞不字,十年乃字」言守正待时。朱熹谓「六二中正,有应于上,然在屯难之中,未能遽进」。
Chasing the deer without a forester, one only enters the depths of the wood. The superior person reads the signs and does better to let it go; to press on brings regret.
You pursue the quarry with no guide and blunder into the thicket. The wise one grasps the moment and gives up the chase; forcing ahead only breeds regret.
Image: 即鹿无虞,以从禽也。君子舍之,往吝穷也。
六三居下卦之极,阴居阳位失正,又无正应(上六亦阴)。「即鹿无虞」喻盲目追逐而无向导,如猎鹿于林而无虞人引路。六三上乘九五之刚而下乘初九之阳,乘刚之象多凶。程颐言「不知时势而妄动,虽有所求,终必困穷」。
Riding out and turning back. Seek the union; to go forward brings good fortune, and nothing is without advantage.
You ride to and fro in doubt, yet now is the time to reach out for partnership and alliance. Go forward, and good fortune follows with nothing to hinder it.
Image: 求而往,明也。
六四居上卦之初,阴居阴位得正,与初九正应。「乘马班如,求婚媾」——虽踌躇不前,但下有初九之应,终获佳偶。六四近于九五之君,又有初九之应,左右逢源。《象传》曰「求而往,明也」。王弼谓六四「有应在初,往必得之」。
The bounty is held back. In small matters, steadfastness brings good fortune; in great matters, it brings misfortune.
Your favor cannot yet be spread widely. Keep to the upright way in small things and fare well; overreach in great ones and meet misfortune.
Image: 屯其膏,施未光也。
九五居上卦之中,阳居阳位得正得中,屯之尊位。然坎水围困,虽有刚中之德,膏泽难施。「屯其膏」言恩泽被阻而不及于下。九五与六二正应,但坎险阻隔,故「小贞吉,大贞凶」。程颐言「膏泽不下于民,上下不交,虽有中正之德,不能大亨也」。
Riding out and turning back; weeping tears of blood in streams.
You circle on horseback with no road forward or back, weeping tears of blood. The plight is dire; sever the loss with a resolute hand.
Image: 泣血涟如,何可长也。
上六居屯卦之极,阴居阴位得正而处穷极之位。「乘马班如,泣血涟如」——骑马徘徊,涕泪交流,困极而泣。上六无正应,穷途末路之象。《象传》曰「泣血涟如,何可长也」。屯极则变,物极必反,此为新生之转机。程颐谓「屯极则必通」。
Divination Reference(original text)
创业或新投资初期,资金压力大,宜小步试水,广寻合伙人,不可盲目加仓。
事业草创阶段,困难重重属正常,坚持积累资源与人脉,打好基础最重要。
感情初期可能波折,不要着急,给彼此时间磨合,真诚相待终能成就。
初期症状易被忽视,须及早就医检查,切勿拖延,以防小病拖成大患。
Traditional Reading(original text)
万事开头难之象,创始维艰但充满生机。如同春雷初动、草木萌生,虽面临重重困难,但只要坚持不懈,终将突破困境迎来光明。
事业处于创业初期,困难重重但前途光明。宜脚踏实地、步步为营,多寻求贵人相助。切忌急于求成、好高骛远。
经商初期艰难,启动资金紧张或市场开拓受阻。建议稳扎稳打,从小做起逐步积累。不宜贸然大规模投资。
学业虽有阻力但前景可期,需要付出比常人更多的努力。基础阶段尤为重要,扎实功底是日后成功的关键。
感情发展曲折,初识时困难较多,但若真心相待、耐心经营,终能修成正果。急于求成反而适得其反。
当前形势虽然困难,但正是播种耕耘的好时机。决策宜稳重谨慎,广纳良言,不可莽撞行事。坚守正道,静待时机成熟。
School Interpretations(original text)
屯难初生,万象萌动。云雷交加,创业维艰。宜守正待时,忌轻举妄动。
屯卦为水雷相交,象征事物初生之时的艰难。如同幼苗破土,虽生机勃勃却面临重重阻碍。得此卦者,正处于事业或人生的开创阶段,诸事不顺乃常态,不必气馁。宜坚定信念、寻求帮助、步步为营,不可操之过急。守住正道,困难终将过去。
运势多阻,处于困难期,宜忍耐坚持、守正待时。
财运不畅,投资宜小心,不宜冒险,先求稳再图利。
家宅初建,多有波折,宜团结互助,共渡难关。
注意肾脏和足部,初病宜早治,切勿拖延。