水山蹇
行路艰难，见险知止
The Judgment
Obstruction: the southwest furthers; the northeast does not. It furthers one to see the great man. Perseverance brings good fortune.
The hexagram of Obstruction shows water's peril ahead and the mountain's barrier behind, an image of movement made difficult. It favors going toward the level ground of the southwest and warns against the rugged northeast; it is well to seek out a great man, and to hold to what is right brings good fortune.
山上有水，蹇。君子以反身修德。
蹇，难也，险在前也。见险而能止，知矣哉。蹇利西南，往得中也。不利东北，其道穷也。利见大人，往有功也。当位贞吉，以正邦也。蹇之时用大矣哉！
Interpretation(original text)
蹇，跛也，行路艰难之义。前有险水（坎），后有险山（艮），进退维谷，举步维艰。然蹇非绝境，《彖》曰「蹇，难也，险在前也。见险而能止，知矣哉」，知难而适时停止，乃处蹇之智慧。
上坎为水为险，下艮为山为止。山高水险，前路坎坷，行者不得不止步。程颐释曰：「上险下止，见险而止，蹇之象也。」艮止于内，坎险于外，明知前方有险则当止步静待。然蹇非永困，水在山上终将流下，险阻终有解除之日。
九五居尊位以阳居阳，中正得位，为蹇卦之主，处险难之中而能济蹇。六二居内卦之中，柔顺中正，与九五正应，为辅佐济蹇之贤臣。初六居卦底，往则入蹇；上六居卦极，蹇道将穷而转变。王弼注：「五以刚中居尊位，在蹇难之时，当济天下之蹇者也。」
蹇继睽之后。《序卦》曰：「乖必有难，故受之以蹇。」乖离不和则必遇艰难。蹇与解互为综卦，蹇为困难，解为纾解，难极则解。朱熹曰：「蹇难之后必有解散之时。」蹇解一组，体现困而后通之理。
The Lines
To go leads to obstruction; to come back brings praise.
Pressing forward runs into hindrance, but turning back earns honor. To recognize the difficulty and withdraw is the wise course.
Image: 往蹇来誉，宜待也。
初六以阴居阳位，不当位，处蹇之始。「往蹇来誉」，前往则陷入蹇难，退回则获得赞誉。程颐释曰：「蹇难在前，往则益蹇，止而不往，乃见几知止，故来则有誉。」初爻位卑力弱，不宜勉强前行，静守其位、审时度势方为上策。
The king's servant meets obstruction upon obstruction, but not for his own sake.
The loyal minister presses through hardship after hardship, and not for any private gain of his own; devotion to the common good leaves him no choice.
Image: 王臣蹇蹇，终无尤也。
六二以阴居阴位，中正得位。「王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故」，王之臣子一再涉险，非为一己之私。六二与九五正应，以柔中之德辅佐九五济难。朱熹曰：「忠于国事而不顾己身，此贤臣之义。」虽身处蹇难，仍义无反顾地前往，以忠诚和中正之德为济蹇之栋梁。
To go leads to obstruction; hence he comes back.
Going forward meets barriers, so he returns to safety. Judging advance and retreat rightly, he takes no needless risk.
Image: 往蹇来反，内喜之也。
九三以阳居阳位得正，处内卦之极。「往蹇来反」，前往遇蹇难则回转归来。九三为内卦之主，阳刚得正，在内而为众阴所依。程颐谓：「三居下卦之上，为内所恃，往则蹇而来则为下之所附。」此爻宜守内而不宜冒进，「内喜之」乃众人安心依靠之象。
To go leads to obstruction; to come back leads to union.
To press ahead runs into hindrance, so he comes back and joins with others. Only by uniting many hands can the difficulty be overcome.
Image: 往蹇来连，当位实也。
六四以阴居阴位得正，处上卦之初，已入险地。「往蹇来连」，前往更加蹇难，退回则有所连结。王弼注：「入于蹇而能连合同志以济难，虽居险位而有济蹇之资。」六四近九五之尊，当联合众人之力共渡难关。此爻重在合力济蹇，不可独行。
In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come.
Beset by grave hardship, yet friends arrive one after another to help. Where virtue is high, allies gather to share the burden of hard times.
Image: 大蹇朋来，以中节也。
九五以阳居阳位，中正尊贵，处坎险之中而为蹇卦之主。「大蹇朋来」，大的蹇难之时朋友纷纷前来相助。程颐释曰：「五以刚中之德居尊位，在蹇之时，天下之人皆来归附。」此爻为济蹇之核心人物，以德召人，虽处大难而能众志成城、化险为夷。
To go leads to obstruction; to come brings great things and good fortune. It furthers one to see the great man.
Advancing meets obstacles, but returning yields rich reward and good fortune; it is well to seek out the great man. To know when to halt and turn back brings abundant gain.
Image: 往蹇来硕，志在内也。利见大人，以从贵也。
上六以阴居阴位得正，处蹇之极。「往蹇来硕，吉」，前往仍蹇，退来则得丰硕之果。蹇道至极将变，上六转头归来则可成大事。朱熹曰：「蹇极而反，来而得大，志在内也。」「利见大人」，宜见有德之人以辅济之，蹇极则通，柳暗花明。
Divination Reference(original text)
市场环境艰难时不宜强行出击，宜寻求安全方向配置资产，向有实力者请教借力。
遇到重大困难时应知进退、善借外力，合众人之力方能突破困局。
感情遇到困境时应向信任之人倾诉求助，不必一人独撑，共同面对才能渡难关。
身体出现难治之症时，应尽早就医求助于专业人士，不可讳疾忌医。
Traditional Reading(original text)
蹇卦象征行路艰难、前有险阻。山高水深，寸步难行。遇到困难不可盲目前进，宜反省自身、修养德行，等待援助和时机。
事业上遭遇重大阻碍，进退维谷。不宜孤军奋战，应寻求贵人帮助和团队支持。先修内功、解决内部问题，再图外展。
商业上前路受阻，资金或市场遇到瓶颈。不可冒险突围，宜稳守现有阵地，联合盟友共渡难关。
学业上遇到瓶颈期，感觉进步缓慢。宜回归基础、反复温习，不可急于求成。向师友请教是突破之道。
感情道路坎坷，可能遇到家庭反对或现实阻碍。需要耐心和毅力，真爱可以克服困难，但不可操之过急。
遇到困难时不要急于行动，先冷静分析原因、反省自身不足。寻找可靠的合作伙伴和顾问，借助外力渡难关。
School Interpretations(original text)
蹇者难也。前有坎险，后有艮止，进退皆难。反身修德、待时而动，方可脱困。
此卦坎水在上、艮山在下，山高水险，行路极难。象征诸事不顺、处处碰壁。得此卦者，运势多舛，不宜冒进。宜反躬自省、修身养德，等待困境自解。有贵人相助之象，但须主动求教。
运势困顿，暂宜退守，待时而动。
财运受阻，不宜投资，节流为上。
家宅不安，防水患，宜修缮。
腰腿关节不利，肾水不足宜调养。