29 · Hexagram 29

Kan · The Abysmal (Water over Water)

重險·在險中行險

上卦upper trigram · / Water下卦lower trigram · / Water

Image

先看圖像,再讀文字。Read the image before the words.

大象傳《大象傳》從上下卦的自然圖像推演全卦之象,再提出人事取法。The Great Image derives conduct from the two trigrams' natural images.Great Image

  1. 全卦成象Whole image

    水洊至,習坎

    (The representation of) water flowing on continuously forms the repeated Kan.

  2. 人事取法Conduct

    君子以常德行,習教事。

    The superior man, in accordance with this, maintains constantly the virtue (of his heart) and (the integrity of) his conduct, and practises the business of instruction.

水一重一重地流來—習坎之象。君子仿此—以恆常的德行為操守,反覆練習教化之事。 (水反覆流過同一處才能沖出河道。在重險中反覆練習才能形成道路。)

(The representation of) water flowing on continuously forms the repeated Kan. The superior man, in accordance with this, maintains constantly the virtue (of his heart) and (the integrity of) his conduct, and practises the business of instruction.

Words

先讀經文,再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。The received text, then the Tuan commentary on it.

卦辭對整個卦(六條線為一組)的總體判斷。The judgment on the hexagram as a whole.
Judgment

習坎:有孚,維心亨,行有尚。

習坎(重重之險)—有誠信,唯內心通達,行動才受嘉尚。 身處重險之中,外在條件都不通;唯一能通的是內心。心通才能行,行才有功。

Kan, here repeated, shows the possession of sincerity, through which the mind is penetrating. Action (in accordance with this) will be of high value.

彖傳十翼之一,直接解釋卦名、卦辭及其剛柔結構。Tuan Zhuan — explains the name, the Judgment and the line structure.
Commentary on the Judgment

習坎,重險也。水流而不盈,行險而不失其信。「維心亨」,乃以剛中也。「行有尚」,往有功也。天險,不可升也;地險,山川丘陵也。王公設險以守其國。險之時用大矣哉!

習坎—重重之險。水流而不盈滿——在險中行進而不失信。「維心亨」—因剛居中位。「行有尚」—前往有功。天之險—不可攀升;地之險—山 / 川 / 丘 / 陵。王公設險(建城牆 / 築工事)以守國。險的用處何其大!

Kan, here repeated, shows two defiles, (one above the other). In such a double defile water will flow on, without accumulating its volume (so as to overflow); one may pursue his (dangerous) course without losing his sincerity. 'That the mind is penetrating' is indicated by the strong (line) in the centre. That 'action (in accordance with this) will be of high value' tells us that advance will be followed by achievement. The dangerous (height) of heaven cannot be ascended; the difficult places of the earth are mountains, rivers, hills, and mounds. Kings and princes arrange, by means of such strengths, to maintain their territories. Great indeed is the use of (what is here) taught about seasons of peril.

Lines

六條線各有一句判斷。閱讀次序初→上;卦象由下而上,看左側的卦。One statement per line, read from the first line to the top. The figure is drawn bottom-up — watch the rail.

初六
入坎中坎into the cavern
1 爻 · line 1 · yin

習坎,入于坎窞,凶。

重坎之中—進入坎中之坎(最深處),凶。 初六在險之始而又入險—險上加險。

The first SIX, divided, shows its subject in the double defile, and (yet) entering a cavern within it. There will be evil.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

習坎入坎,失道凶也。

重坎入坎—失了道,凶。

'In the double defile, he yet enters a cavern in it':—he has missed his (proper) way, and there will be evil.

九二
中位求小small gains in centrality
2 爻 · line 2 · yang

坎有險,求小得。

坎中有險—求小的可以得到。 九二居中—在險中不求大 / 只求小,可得。

The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject in all the peril of the defile. He will, however, get a little (of the deliverance) that he seeks.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

求小得,未出中也。

求小可得—因還沒走出中位。

'He will get a little (of the deliverance that he seeks)':—he will not yet escape from his central place (in the trigram).

六三
進退皆險peril either way
3 爻 · line 3 · yin

來之坎坎,險且枕,入于坎窞,勿用。

來來去去都是坎—險而且倚靠(不穩),進入坎中之坎,不要動。 六三處上下兩險之間—動也險、不動也險,但動必入更深,所以「勿用」。

The third SIX, divided, shows its subject, whether he comes or goes (=descends or ascends), confronted by a defile. All is peril to him and unrest. (His endeavours) will lead him into the cavern of the pit. There should be no action (in such a case).

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

來之坎坎,終无功也。

來去都是坎—終究無功。

'Whether he comes or goes, he is confronted by a defile':—he will never (in such circumstances) achieve any success.

六四
簡約通連simple connection
4 爻 · line 4 · yin

樽酒簋貳,用缶,納約自牖,終无咎。

一樽酒、兩個簋(食器),用瓦器裝;從窗戶(簡約通道)送入—最終無咎。 六四在險中而與九五相應—用最簡樸的方式維持與君位的連結,無咎。

The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject (at a feast), with (simply) a bottle of spirits, and a subsidiary basket of rice, while (the cups and bowls) are (only) of earthenware. He introduces his important lessons (as opportunity is afforded) by a window. There will in the end be no error.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

樽酒簋貳,剛柔際也。

樽酒簋貳—剛柔之際(六四與九五相接)。

'(Nothing but) a bottle of spirits and a subsidiary basket of rice':—(these describe) the meeting at this point of (those who are represented by) the strong and weak lines.

九五
險將平息leveling the peril
5 爻 · line 5 · yang

坎不盈,祇既平,无咎。

坎中的水不滿溢—祇(地神)已平—無咎。 九五是君位—在險中守中不過—險自然緩解。

The fifth NINE, undivided, shows the water of the defile not yet full, (so that it might flow away); but order will (soon) be brought about. There will be no error.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

坎不盈,中未大也。

坎不盈—中道尚未大顯。

'The water of the defile is not full (so as to flow away)':—(the virtue indicated by) the central situation is not yet (sufficiently) great.

上六
三歲被困three years bound
6 爻 · line 6 · yin

係用徽纆,寘于叢棘,三歲不得,凶。

用繩索綑縛—放在荊棘叢中—三年不得出,凶。 上六是險之終—沒有走出反而被困,最嚴重的結局。

The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject bound with cords of three strands or two strands, and placed in the thicket of thorns. (But) in three years he does not learn the course (for him to pursue). There will be evil.

小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註。Xiao Xiang — short classical commentary on this line.

上六失道,凶三歲也。

上六失道—凶至三年。

'(The topmost six shows its subject) missing his (proper) course':—the evil will last three years.

Use

把象套到你的情境,取一個可行的下一步。Apply the image to your situation; take one practical step.

重重的水—一道險接一道險,但水自己不滿溢不失信。

Water upon water — peril after peril, yet water itself never overflows and never loses its course.

把象套到你的情境 · Apply the image to your situation
  1. 初六新人入大坑deep pit early on
  2. 九二在險中保住小成small gains amid risk
  3. 六三進退兩難stuck between perils
  4. 六四簡單透明地溝通simple transparent comms
  5. 九五領導者平息危機leader resolving crisis
  6. 上六陷入長期困境long-term entrapment

坎是八純卦之一,自身對稱(上下顛倒仍為坎)—沒有綜卦。錯卦為 30 離(純火 / 純明)。坎與離是易經中最重要的對—險與明、暗與顯、北與南。讀坎必同時想離—你此刻是在險中還是在明中?Kan is one of the Eight Pure Hexagrams, self-symmetric (read upside-down still gives Kan) — no inverse hexagram. Its opposite is Li (30, pure fire / pure brightness). Kan and Li are among the Yijing's most important pairings — peril and clarity, darkness and brightness, north and south. Reading Kan implies reading Li — are you currently in peril or in clarity?

可行的一步 · Practical move

坎卦教人在重險之中怎樣行走。卦辭「維心亨」點出要害:險象環環相扣時,唯一還能通達的是那顆心,內在一旦失守,比任何外在的失利都致命。大象「常德行、習教事」給出日常功課——把險當練習場看待,一次次過險便是一次次演習,別把它只當災難場。九五「坎不盈」再補一句分寸:在險中守住中道,不過頭、不滿溢,險自己會漸漸平息。最怕的是初六與上六,一頭栽進「入窞」與「叢棘」,落入險中之險。

Kan teaches 'walking peril within peril.' Three operations: (1) the judgment 'only the heart penetrates' — only the heart passes through doubled peril. Losing the heart is more fatal than losing externally. (2) The Great Image 'keep virtue constant in conduct, practice the work of instruction' — treat peril as practice ground, not disaster zone. (3) Line 5's 'the pit not yet full' — hold the central path in peril, don't overflow / don't overdo, and the peril levels itself. The deepest failures: lines 1 and 6, 'entering the cavern' and 'the thicket of thorns' — falling into peril within peril.

失手之處 · Failure mode

把坎讀成「我倒楣了 / 命不好」—錯。坎不是命運,是結構性的重險,配著結構性的處險之道。最大的失誤是在險中焦急 / 失心—一旦心失,就進入初六的「入窞」(入坑中之坑)。坎卦給你的教學是:保住心 + 守中道 + 反覆練習,險必過。

Misreading Kan as 'I'm cursed / fate is bad' — wrong. Kan is not destiny; it is structural doubled peril paired with a structural way through. The deepest failure is anxiety / heart-loss in peril — once the heart is lost, you enter line 1's state of falling into the cavern within the pit. Kan's teaching: hold the heart + central path + repeated practice, and peril must pass.

義理Commentary4
魏晉 · 3rd c.王弼《周易注》Wang Bi, Commentary on the Zhou YiScholarly

坎,險也;重坎,重險也。處重險而能不失其信,唯心通而已。剛中而不陷,所以「行有尚」。聖人於坎之時,明守心之道——險不可盡免,但心可不失。

Kan is peril; doubled Kan is doubled peril. Dwelling in doubled peril and yet not losing one's sincerity — only the heart penetrates. The firm-and-central does not fall in — hence action is honored. In the time of Kan, the sage clarifies the way of guarding the heart: peril cannot be entirely avoided, but the heart can avoid being lost.

北宋 · 11th c.程頤《伊川易傳》Cheng Yi, Yichuan's Commentary on the YiScholarly

重險謂之坎。處險之道,貴在剛中而不失其常。「習」者,重也,又練也——險而又練之,乃可出險。聖人於此立教:心常其所守,行常其所守,斯可不失於險。「常德行、習教事」者,正謂此也。

Doubled peril is called Kan. The way of dwelling in peril values firmness-and-centrality without losing one's constancy. The name's word xi means 'doubled' and also 'practiced' — peril repeated and practiced yields the way out. Here the sage establishes a teaching: the heart constant in what it guards, action constant in what it guards — so one is not lost in peril. 'Keep virtue constant in conduct, and practice the work of instruction' is precisely this.

南宋 · 12th c.朱熹《周易本義》Zhu Xi, The Original Meaning of the Zhou YiScholarly

習,重也。坎,陷也。陽陷陰中,重之則險矣。「有孚」者,內有真實之心;「維心亨」者,唯心可以通也;「行有尚」者,行則有功。聖人於險中以剛中為主——故曰「維心亨」。

Xi means 'doubled.' Kan means 'fall into.' Yang falls amid yin; doubled, this is peril. Inner sincerity is the true heart within; 'only the heart penetrates' means only the heart can pass through; 'action is honored' means action then yields achievement. In peril the sage takes firm-and-central as master — hence 'only the heart penetrates.'

現代 Contemporary現代傳承(繼承倪海廈《天紀》象-first 讀法之精神,非逐字轉錄)Modern lineage (inheriting the spirit of Ni Haixia's Tian Ji, not transcribing)Introductory

坎上坎下,險過了還是險,六十四卦裡把「困境」寫得最徹底的就是這一卦。卦辭卻只給了一條出路:「維心亨」。環境通不了,條件也通不了,能通的只剩心。心一亂,平地也是陷阱;心定住了,重險裡照樣走得出腳步。《天紀》講醫案走的正是這個次序——先保住心,再談處置。 卦名「習坎」一詞兩讀:既是重重之險,也是拿險來練。險躲不掉,那就把它當練習場,每過一次,心法熟一分;大象「常德行,習教事」落的就是這裡。六爻是一條險中行進的路線:初六摔進坎底,最壞;九二在險中求小得;六三進退都是險,就別動;六四一樽酒、兩簋飯,維持最簡的連結;九五水將平未平;上六被繫三年。讀坎不為避險——是為了認出自己此刻在險的哪一層,把那一層該守的守住。

Kan doubled: peril, and past it more peril — the Yijing's most thorough portrait of being stuck. The judgment offers exactly one way through: 'only the heart penetrates.' The environment won't open and the conditions won't open; what can stay open is the heart. Unsettled, it turns flat ground into a pit; held steady, it finds footing through danger after danger. Tian Ji teaches its medical cases in the same order — secure the heart first, then treat. The name 'Xi Kan' reads two ways: peril doubled, and peril practiced. Since the danger can't be avoided, it becomes the training ground — each crossing seasons the method a little more; the Great Image's 'constant virtue, practiced instruction' lands exactly there. The six lines walk a route through it: into the pit at the bottom, small gains held at two, no move worth making at three, a jug of wine keeping the simplest bond at four, water nearly level at five, three years bound at the top. You read Kan not to escape peril but to recognize which layer of it you stand in, and to hold what that layer asks.

注解Annotation7
kǎn

Pit, abyss, peril. Trigram ☵: yang trapped between two yin — strength held in peril. Doubled = compounded danger.

Repeat, practice. The hexagram name 習坎 = 'doubled peril' but also 'practiced peril' — repetition itself is the way through.

Inner sincerity. In Kan, the only thing that 'flows through' is 孚— external paths are blocked, only the heart penetrates.

dàn

A small cavern within a larger pit. Lines 1 and 3: '入于坎窞' — falling deeper than the surrounding peril, the worst position.

樽酒簋貳zūn jiǔ guǐ èr

A wine vessel + two ritual food baskets. Line 4's image: in peril, simple offerings suffice — don't need elaborate ritual.

yǒu

Window. Line 4's '納約自牖' — passing simple gifts through a window: indirect, modest, sincere connection in difficulty.

徽纆huī mò

Ropes of three / two strands. Line 6's '係用徽纆' — bound by cords. Image of the worst form of capture, in the bramble thicket.

歷史Context4
八純卦之一
One of the Eight Pure Hexagrams

坎是八純卦之一(上下同一三爻卦),是八宮體系中坎宮的本宮卦。八純卦在京房卦氣 / 納甲 / 風水等漢易體系中都是重要的起點卦。其他七純卦:1 乾、2 坤、30 離、51 震、52 艮、57 巽、58 兌。

Kan is one of the Eight Pure Hexagrams (where upper and lower trigrams are identical) — the home-hexagram of the Kan palace in the Eight-Palace system. Pure hexagrams are foundational starting points in Han-era Yi systems: gua-qi (hexagram-and-qi), na-jia (stem-branch attribution), fengshui, etc. The other seven: 1 Qian, 2 Kun, 30 Li, 51 Zhen, 52 Gen, 57 Xun, 58 Dui.

與離為錯卦
Opposite of Li, The Clinging / Fire (30)

坎與 30 離為錯卦—兩個純卦配對。坎是純水 / 純險,離是純火 / 純明。水 / 火是自然界的兩大對立,也是易經的重要對應—在後天八卦中坎居北、離居南,是五行的水火兩極。

Kan and Li (30) are opposite hexagrams — paired pure hexagrams. Kan is pure water / pure peril; Li is pure fire / pure brightness. Water and fire are the great natural opposites and a major Yijing pairing — in the Later-Heaven bagua, Kan sits north, Li south, the water-fire poles of the five phases.

「設險守國」的政治哲學
'Set up peril to protect the state' — political philosophy

彖傳「王公設險以守其國」是易經中罕見的城防 / 戰略教學—險不只是自然災難,是政治設計的工具。城牆 / 護城河 / 山隘 / 關卡都是「設險」的形式。漢唐政論家引此立邊防 / 內政之論—適度的險是治國之必須。

The Tuan Zhuan's teaching that kings and lords arrange peril to protect their state is a rare strategic-defensive teaching in the Yijing — peril is not only natural calamity but a tool of political design. City walls, moats, mountain passes, checkpoints are all forms of 'set up peril.' Han-Tang political theorists cited this for arguments on border defense and internal governance — proper peril is essential to statecraft.

「習」字的教育意義
The pedagogical meaning of 'xi' (practice)

「習」是《論語》開篇「學而時習之」的同一個字—反覆練習。坎卦用「習坎」二字暗示:險不是用來避開的,是用來習練的。把重險當成「重複練習的場域」是整個漢唐教育哲學的一條暗線。

The word xi is the same character that opens the Analects: 'to study, and in due season to practice what one has learned.' The hexagram name 'doubled Kan' implies: peril is not to be avoided but to be practiced. Treating doubled peril as 'the field of repeated practice' is a thread running through Han-Tang educational philosophy.

練習Practice3
  1. line-read

    你此刻處於什麼樣的重險?是在哪一爻?心還在嗎?

    What doubled peril are you currently in? Which line? Is the heart still held?

  2. char-recall

    辨認:坎、習、孚、窞、牖、棘。

    Identify the meaning of each character: 坎 (kǎn), 習 (xí), 孚 (fú), 窞 (dàn), 牖 (yǒu), 棘 (jí).

  3. parse

    「維心亨」三字為什麼是整部易經處險之道的經典句?「心亨」與「行亨」差在哪裡?

    Why is 'only the heart penetrates' a classic line on dwelling in peril? What's the difference between 'heart-penetrating' and 'action-penetrating'?