開局之難：有生機但被阻塞
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.
屯：元、亨、利、貞。勿用有攸往，利建侯。
屯——啟動、通達、有利、守正。現在不是到處走的時候（勿用有攸往）；重要的是建立一個核心的人（利建侯）。開局混亂時，先不急著四處行動，先把主事者立起來。
Khun (indicates that in the case which it presupposes) there will be great progress and success, and the advantage will come from being correct and firm. (But) any movement in advance should not be (lightly) undertaken. There will be advantage in appointing feudal princes.
屯，剛柔始交而難生。動乎險中，大亨貞。雷雨之動滿盈，天造草昧，宜建侯而不寧。
屯：剛和柔剛開始交會，因而產生了「難」。在險境之中運動——有大通且守正的可能。雷和雨的運動充盈著整個空間，這是天在造作一個草木初生的混沌時期——此時應該立一個主事者，但還不能安定。
In Khun we have the strong (Khien) and the weak (Khwan) commencing their intercourse, and difficulties arising. There is movement in the midst of peril, (giving rise to) 'great progress and success, (through) firm correctness.' By the action of the thunder and rain, (which are symbols of Khien and Khwan), all (space) between heaven and earth is filled. But the condition of the time is full of irregularity and obscurity. Feudal princes should be established, but the feeling that repose has been secured should not be indulged.
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
雲雷屯
(The trigram symbolic of) clouds and (that of) thunder form Khun.
君子以經綸。
The superior man, in accordance with this, (adjusts his measures of government) as in sorting the threads of the warp and woof.
雲和雷的象是屯——君子效法，做「經綸」：把散亂的線理順、編成布，把混亂的局面組織起來。
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.
磐桓，利居貞，利建侯。
徘徊難進——此時守住正道、不要硬動，對長期是有利的。同時要立一個主事者。最初的難關就是：慢下來，立好結構。
The first NINE, undivided, shows the difficulty (its subject has) in advancing. It will be advantageous for him to abide correct and firm; advantageous (also) to be made a feudal ruler.
雖磐桓，志行正也。以貴下賤，大得民也。
雖然徘徊，志向是行正道；以尊貴的身分降低來就下——因此得到眾人的擁戴。
Although 'there is a difficulty in advancing,' the mind (of the subject of the line) is set on doing what is correct. While noble, he humbles himself to the mean, and grandly gains the people.
屯如邅如，乘馬班如。匪寇婚媾，女子貞不字，十年乃字。
艱難徘徊，騎著馬原地打轉。那人不是強盜，是來求婚的。女子守正不匆忙答應，十年之後才應許。在混亂中需要的是長期的等待，而不是倉促的決定。
The second SIX, divided, shows (its subject) distressed and obliged to return; (even) the horses of her chariot (also) seem to be retreating. (But) not by a spoiler (is she assailed), but by one who seeks her to be his wife. The young lady maintains her firm correctness, and declines a union. After ten years she will be united, and have children.
六二之難，乘剛也。十年乃字，反常也。
六二的難——是因為它要騎著剛爻（初九）上。十年才應許——是回到常道。
The difficulty of the second SIX arises from its position above the (first) strong line. 'The union after ten years' shows things resuming their regular course.
即鹿无虞，惟入于林中。君子幾，不如舍，往吝。
追鹿而沒有獵場嚮導——只會陷入森林裡。君子看到苗頭不對，不如放棄不追；硬要追，會陷入難堪。知時而退，是這個位置的智慧。
The third SIX, divided, shows one following the deer without (the guidance of) the forester, and only finding himself in the midst of the forest. The superior man, acquainted with the secret risks, thinks it better to give up the chase. If he went forward, he would regret it.
即鹿无虞，以從禽也。君子舍之，往吝窮也。
追鹿沒嚮導，只是為了追獵物；君子放棄——硬往前走會陷入窮境。
'One pursues the deer without the forester' — in his (eagerness to) follow the game. 'The superior man gives up the chase' — (because) going forward (in such a case) would lead to regret and straitness.
乘馬班如。求婚媾，往吉，无不利。
騎著馬在原地打轉。去求婚（找合作對象），前去就吉，沒有不利的。此時已經到了可以尋找結盟的階段，不要再猶豫。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows (its subject as a lady), the horses of whose chariot appear in retreat. She seeks, however, (the help of) him who seeks her to be his wife. Advance will be fortunate; all will turn out advantageously.
求而往，明也。
求合作然後前進——這是明智的。
The search for the union and going forward at the advance show intelligence.
屯其膏。小貞吉，大貞凶。
好處（膏）被屯積著（屯其膏）——指恩澤分配不下去。做小事守正會吉；做大事守正反而凶。在困難時期處於領導位置，不宜大刀闊斧，只宜小規模的、穩定的決定。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows the difficulties in the way of (its subject's) dispensing the rich favours that might be expected from him. With firmness and correctness there will be good fortune in small things; (even) with them in great things there will be evil.
屯其膏，施未光也。
屯其膏——是恩澤還未能光大地散開。
'Difficulties in the way of his dispensing the rich favours that might be expected from him' — his benefactions will not yet be extensive.
乘馬班如，泣血漣如。
騎著馬原地打轉，流著血淚不止——困局到了極處。屯卦的最後位置表示：難已經拖到走不下去的地步。此時不是再硬撐，是要承認這個階段必須結束。
The topmost SIX, divided, shows (its subject) with the horses of his chariot obliged to retreat, and weeping tears of blood in streams.
泣血漣如，何可長也。
流血淚不止——這樣怎麼可能長久？
'He weeps tears of blood in streams' — how can the condition (thus represented) continue long?
Sprouting through hard earth; accumulating with difficulty. Both a noun (the state) and a verb (to accumulate / store). The primal image: new life pushing past obstruction.
To linger, pause, circle back. The line-1 state: wanting to move but seeing no clear direction.
Hesitant, wheeling without progress. The visual: horses turning in place, not moving forward.
To return, turn back; here: chariots appearing to retreat or stall. Recurs in three lines (2, 4, 6) — circular motion is the hexagram's signature.
In line 2 — to pledge in marriage / to bear children. 'Not 字' = not betrothed. '十年乃字' = only after ten years will there be betrothal. The image: slow gestation, not rushed.
Fat, grease; metaphorically, rich benefits or favors that should flow out. 屯其膏 = benefits stuck, not flowing to those who need them.
To arrange the threads of the warp and woof — weaving. The 大象 directive: take the tangled situation and sort it into structure.
