Annotated Book of Changes · Hexagram 29

坎kan

The Abysmal

卦

Hexagram Statement

卦辭

經 Classic Text

習坎坎下坎上習坎，有孚，維心亨，行有尚。有孚者，孚，信也，由剛正在內，故有信也。維心亨者，陽不外發而在於內，是維心亨，言心得通也。行有尚者，內亨外闇，內剛外柔，以此行險，事可尊尚，故云行有尚也。案：諸卦之名，皆於卦上不加其字。此坎卦之名特加習者，以坎為險難，故特加習名。習有二義：一者習重也，謂上下俱坎，是重疊有險，險之重疊，乃成險之用也。二者人之行險，先須便習其事，乃可得通，故云習也。

Translation

Repeated Kan; Kan below, Kan above.

Repeated Kan,

There is sincerity, and the heart alone finds Success,

Action will be esteemed.

'There is sincerity' — sincerity means trustworthiness; because the firm and correct is within, therefore there is trustworthiness. 'The heart alone finds Success' — the yang does not issue outward but resides within; this is the heart alone finding Success, meaning the heart attains free passage.

'Action will be esteemed' — within is free passage, without is darkness; within is firmness, without is yielding. To traverse danger with these qualities makes one's undertaking worthy of esteem, hence it says 'action will be esteemed.'

Note: Among the names of all hexagrams, none adds an extra character before the hexagram name.

' 'Repeated' has two meanings: first, it means doubling — the upper and lower are both Kan, meaning danger is layered upon danger, and only through the layering of danger does the function of danger come into being. '

注 Wang Bi's Commentary

坎，險陷之名也。習謂便習之。剛正在內，有孚者也。陽不外發而在乎內，心亨者也。內亨外闇，內剛外順，以此行險，行有尚也。

Translation

Kan is the name for perilous entrapment. 'Repeated' means to practice and become accustomed.

The firm and correct being within — this is what 'there is sincerity' means. The yang not issuing outward but residing within — this is what 'the heart finds Success' means.

Within is free passage, without is darkness; within is firmness, without is compliance. To traverse danger with these qualities — this is what 'action will be esteemed' means.

疏 Kong Yingda's Subcommentary

正義曰：習坎者，坎是險陷之名。習者，便習之義。險難之事，非經便習，不可以行。故須便習於坎事乃得用，故云習坎也。

Translation

The Correct Meaning states: 'Repeated Kan' — Kan is the name for perilous entrapment. 'Repeated' carries the meaning of practicing and becoming accustomed. Matters of danger and difficulty cannot be carried out without first practicing and becoming accustomed to them. '

疏

注「剛正」至「亨者也」。正義曰：「剛正在內」者，謂陽在中也。因心剛正，則能有誠信，故云剛正在內，有孚者也。陽不外發而在乎內，心亨者也者，若外陽內陰，則內心柔弱，故不得亨通。今以陽在於內，陽能開通，故維其在心之亨也。

Translation

' The Correct Meaning states: 'The firm and correct being within' refers to the yang being in the center.

' 'The yang not issuing outward but residing within — this is what the heart finding Success means' — if yang were outside and yin inside, then the inner heart would be weak and yielding, and therefore could not attain free passage.

Now, with yang residing within, yang is able to open and clear the way, and thus the heart's free passage is maintained.

疏

注「內亨」至「有尚也」。正義曰：「內亨外闇」者，內陽故內亨，外陰故外闇。以亨通之性而往詣陰闇之所，能通於險，故行可貴尚也。

Translation

' The Correct Meaning states: 'Within is free passage, without is darkness' — yang within, therefore free passage within; yin without, therefore darkness without.

Possessing a nature of free passage and proceeding to a place of yin and darkness, one is able to pass through danger; therefore action is worthy of esteem.

鎖

Unlock Full Scholarly Text

Verify your email to access the complete bilingual translation. We'll send you a one-click verification link.

Free access. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏

← 28. 大過 Great Exceeding 30. 離 The Clinging →