重險·在險中行險
Judgment and its commentary
先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。Read the received text first, then its Tuan commentary.
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.
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.
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
水洊至，習坎
(The representation of) water flowing on continuously forms the repeated Kan.
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。）
本站導讀，不屬《大象傳》原文；用來預覽本卦六爻由初至上的意象變化。An editorial preview of the six line images, not part of the Great Image Commentary.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A small cavern within a larger pit. Lines 1 and 3: '入于坎窞' — falling deeper than the surrounding peril, the worst position.
A wine vessel + two ritual food baskets. Line 4's image: in peril, simple offerings suffice — don't need elaborate ritual.
Window. Line 4's '納約自牖' — passing simple gifts through a window: indirect, modest, sincere connection in difficulty.
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.
