屯zhun
Difficulty at the Beginning
See also: Wilhelm commentary for Hexagram 3
Hexagram Statement
卦辭
剛柔始交，是以屯也。不交則否，故屯乃大亨也。大亨則无險，故利貞。 往益屯也。 得主則定。
The firm and the yielding first begin to interact—this is why there is difficulty. If they did not interact, there would be obstruction; therefore difficulty leads to great success. With great success there is no danger; therefore it is beneficial to be correct.
To go forward would only increase the difficulty.
Obtaining a master brings stability.
正義曰：屯，難也。剛柔始交而難生，初相逢遇，故云：屯，難也。以陰陽始交而為難，因難物始大通，故元亨也。萬物大亨，乃得利益而貞正，故利貞也。但屯之四德，劣於乾之四德，故屯乃元亨，亨乃利貞。乾之四德，无所不包。此即勿用有攸往，又別言利建侯，不如乾之无所不利。此已上說屯之自然之四德，聖人當法之。 「勿用有攸往，利建侯」者，以其屯難之世，世道初創，其物未寧，故宜利建侯以寧之。此二句釋人事也。
The Correct Meaning states: Zhun means difficulty. The firm and yielding first begin to interact and difficulty is born; at their initial encounter, therefore it says: Zhun means difficulty.
Because yin and yang first interact, there is difficulty; through difficulty things first achieve great pervasion, hence Sublime Beginning and Success. When the myriad things achieve great success, they then obtain benefit and correctness, hence Benefit and Correctness.
However, the four virtues of Zhun are lesser than the four virtues of Qian. Therefore with Zhun there is first Sublime Beginning and Success, and through Success comes Benefit and Correctness. Qian's four virtues are all-encompassing.
' The above explains the four natural virtues of Zhun, which the sage should model.
'Do not use this to have a place to go; it is beneficial to establish a lord': because this is a time of difficulty, the way of the world is newly created and things are not yet at peace, therefore it is fitting to establish lords to bring peace. These two sentences explain human affairs.
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Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏