Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 困 (Kùn) |
| English Name | Oppression / Exhaustion |
| Trigrams | Lake over Water (兑上坎下) |
| Number | 47 of 64 |
The Text (Yijing Classic)
Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)
Oppression. Success. Perseverance. The great man brings about good fortune. No blame. When one has something to say, it is not believed.
The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)
There is no water in the lake: the image of Exhaustion. Thus the superior man stakes his life on following his will.
The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)
| Line | Position | Text | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初六 | Bottom | One sits oppressed under a bare tree and strays into a gloomy valley. For three years one sees nothing. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 九二 | 2nd | One is oppressed while at meat and drink. The man with the scarlet knee bands is just coming. It furthers one to offer sacrifice. To set forth brings misfortune. No blame. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 六三 | 3rd | A man permits himself to be oppressed by stone, and leans on thorns and thistles. He enters his house and does not see his wife. Misfortune. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 九四 | 4th | He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage. Humiliation, but the end is reached. | Overstepping brings shame; know your place |
| 九五 | 5th | His nose and feet are cut off. Oppression at the hands of the man with the purple knee bands. Joy comes softly. It furthers one to make offerings and libations. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 上六 | Top | He is oppressed by creeping vines. He says to himself, Movement brings remorse. If one feels remorse over this and makes a start, good fortune comes. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
Core Meanings
Essence (本质)
- Lake without water; exhaustion that tests character and reveals true worth
- Upper trigram Lake (joyous and open) over lower trigram Water (deep and flowing)
- Embodies the qualities of oppression, exhaustion, adversity and endurance, spirit, resilience
Keywords
OppressionExhaustionAdversityEnduranceSpiritResilience
Divination & Prediction
★★☆☆☆Difficult — Inner Strength Required
| Aspect | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Overall | Challenging period requiring patience. Lake without water; exhaustion that tests character and reveals true worth Preserve your strength through spirit and resilience. |
| Timing | Not the time for bold initiatives. Consolidate and wait. |
| Challenge | The temptation to force progress will backfire. Practice endurance. |
Applications in Life
Business & Career
In business, this hexagram counsels oppression and exhaustion. The Lake trigram above suggests joyous and open energy in your outer dealings, while the Water trigram below points to deep and flowing foundations. Retrench and preserve resources until conditions improve.
Health & Wellness
Focus on mouth and respiratory and kidneys and ears. Rest and recovery are priorities. Don't push your body beyond its current capacity.
Relationships
In relationships, embody oppression and exhaustion. Patience and understanding are needed. Avoid confrontation; focus on maintaining what you have.
Education & Growth
For learning, this hexagram emphasizes adversity and endurance. Focus on fundamentals and review. Build a strong foundation before advancing.
Practical Wisdom
Do
- Cultivate oppression in all your actions
- Practice exhaustion consistently
- Embrace adversity as your guiding principle
- Develop endurance through daily practice
Don’t
- Neglect the importance of spirit
- Abandon resilience under pressure
- Act impulsively without considering consequences
Comparative Hexagrams
| Hexagram | Relationship |
|---|---|
| 48. Jǐng (井) | The Well — the deep source that oppression cannot reach |
| 6. Sòng (讼) | Conflict — the struggle within oppression |
| 29. Kǎn (坎) | The Abysmal — water drained from the lake |
Sample Reading Dialogue
Querent: “I'm exhausted and feel like no one listens to me. What should I do?”
You received Hexagram 47, Oppression. The judgment says: 'Oppression. Success. Perseverance. The great man brings about good fortune. No b...' Lake without water; exhaustion that tests character and reveals true worth This is a cautionary sign. The current conditions call for spirit rather than action. Preserve your resources and wait for the cycle to turn.