Annotated Book of Changes · Hexagram 52

艮gen

Keeping Still

彖

Tuan Commentary

彖傳

經 Classic Text

彖曰：艮，止也。時止則止，時行則行，動靜不失其時，其道光明。艮其止，止其所也。上下敵應，不相與也。是以不獲其身，行其庭不見其人，无咎也。艮其止，止其所也：此釋施止之所也。「艮其止」者，疊經文「艮其背」也。「易背曰止，以明背」者，无見之物，即是可止之所也。既時止即宜止，時行則行，所以施止須是所。艮既訓止，今言「艮其止」，是止其所止也，故曰「艮其止，止其所」也。

Translation

The Tuan says: Gen means stopping. When the time calls for stopping, then stop; when the time calls for action, then act. Movement and stillness do not miss their proper timing, and the Way is bright and luminous.

Stopping at the point of stopping means stopping in its proper place.

The upper and lower lines stand opposed in correspondence and do not interact with one another. Therefore one does not perceive one's own body; walking through the courtyard, one does not see the other person—there is no blame.

Stopping at the point of stopping means stopping in its proper place: this explains the place where stopping is applied. " "Changing 'back' to 'stopping' to clarify 'back'" means that which has nothing to be seen is precisely the proper place for stopping.

Since when the time calls for stopping one should stop, and when the time calls for action one should act, applying stopping must be in its proper place. "

注 Wang Bi's Commentary

止道不可常用，必施於不可以行；適於其時，道乃光明也。易背曰止，以明背即止也。施止不可於面，施背乃可也。施止於止，不施止於行，得其所矣，故曰艮其止，止其所也。

Translation

The Way of stopping cannot be constantly employed; it must be applied when one cannot proceed. When it fits the timing, the Way is bright and luminous.

Changing 'back' to 'stopping' clarifies that the back is where stopping applies. Stopping cannot be applied to the face; it can be applied to the back. Applying stopping where stopping is due, not applying stopping where action is due—this is finding its proper place.

Therefore it says: stopping at the point of stopping means stopping in its proper place.

疏 Kong Yingda's Subcommentary

正義曰：「艮，止也」者，訓其名也。「時止則止，時行則行，動靜不失其時，其道光明」者，將釋施止有所光明，施止有時，凡物之動息，自各有時運。用止之法，不可為常，必須應時行止，然後其道乃得光明也。

Translation

The Correct Meaning states: "Gen means stopping" explains the name.

"When the time calls for stopping, then stop; when the time calls for action, then act; movement and stillness do not miss their proper timing, and the Way is bright and luminous"—this is about to explain that applying stopping can be luminous.

Applying stopping has its proper time; the movement and rest of all things each naturally has its season and cycle. The method of employing stopping cannot be made constant; one must respond to the time in acting or stopping, and only then can the Way attain brightness and luminosity.

鎖

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

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