致命遂志，困而不失其所
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.
困：亨，貞，大人吉，無咎。有言不信。
困卦——亨通，守正，大人物吉，無咎。但此時說話無人相信。困境中言語無用，只能以德行立。
(In the condition denoted by) Kun there may yet be progress and success. For the firm and correct, the (really) great man, there will be good fortune. He will fall into no error. If he make speeches, his words cannot be made good.
困，剛揜也。險以說，困而不失其所，亨；其唯君子乎！貞大人吉，以剛中也。有言不信，尚口乃窮也。
困，是剛爻被柔爻所揜（掩蓋）。內險（坎）外悅（兌），處困而不失其所，故亨——只有君子能如此！「貞大人吉」是因為剛在中位（九二、九五）。「有言不信」是因為崇尚口舌反而走入窮途。
In Kun the strong (lines) are covered and obscured. (We have the attributes of) peril and satisfaction; there is distress, but no failure of success. (And then) what is said is not believed; — to be fond of arguing in such a case only leads to exhaustion.
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
澤無水，困
(The trigram representing) a marsh, and (below it that representing) water (which has flowed away from it), form Kun.
君子以致命遂志。
The superior man, in accordance with this, will sacrifice his life in order to carry out his purpose.
澤中無水——困之象。君子由此體會：寧可付出生命也要實現志向（致命遂志）。困境中以志守。
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.
臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三歲不覿。
屁股困於斷木——入幽暗山谷，三年不見人。陰柔處下又無應，陷入孤困。
The first SIX shows its subject with bare buttocks straitened under the stump of a tree. He enters a dark valley, and for three years has no prospect (of deliverance).
入于幽谷，幽不明也。
入幽谷，是幽暗不明。
困于酒食，朱紱方來，利用享祀，征凶，無咎。
困於酒食（過豐反成困）——朱紱（君賜的禮服）方來，利於享祀（祭祀），前進凶，無咎。剛中得位，先困後通。
The second NINE shows its subject straitened amidst his wine and viands. There come to him anon the red knee-covers (of the ruler). It will be well for him (to maintain his sincerity as) in sacrificing.
困于酒食，中有慶也。
困于酒食，中位有福慶。
困于石，據于蒺藜，入于其宮，不見其妻，凶。
困於頑石，據於蒺藜（刺），入家門卻不見妻——凶。陰柔不正，處險之上、應上之窮，凶禍至極。
The third SIX shows its subject straitened by a (frowning) rock. He lays hold of thorns. He enters his palace, and does not see his wife. There will be evil.
據于蒺藜，乘剛也。入于其宮，不見其妻，不祥也。
據蒺藜是乘剛之凶。入宮不見妻，是不祥之兆。
來徐徐，困于金車，吝，有終。
緩慢前來——困於金車（顯赫之車反成困），可惜，但最終有結果。
The fourth NINE shows its subject proceeding very slowly (to help the subject of the first line), who is straitened by the carriage adorned with metal in front of him. There will be occasion for regret, but the end will be good.
來徐徐，志在下也。雖不當位，有與也。
緩來，志在下方（援初六）。雖位不當，但有相應。
劓刖，困于赤紱，乃徐有說，利用祭祀。
削鼻砍足之刑——困於赤紱（高位之服）。慢慢有解脫，利於祭祀。剛健尊位但被群陰所困。
The fifth NINE shows its subject with his nose and feet cut off. He is straitened by (his ministers in their) scarlet aprons. He is leisurely in his movements, however, and is satisfied. It will be well for him to be (as sincere as) in sacrificing (to spirits).
劓刖，志未得也。乃徐有說，以中直也。利用祭祀，受福也。
受刑，是志向未達。徐有說，是因中正剛直。利祭祀，受福。
困于葛藟，于臲卼，曰動悔，有悔，征吉。
困於葛藟（藤蔓纏繞），動搖不安——說「動就有悔」，但有悔而後行則吉。困之極處須變動。
The topmost SIX shows its subject straitened, as if bound with creepers; or in a high and dangerous position, and saying (to himself), 'If I move, I shall repent it.' If he do repent of former errors, there will be good fortune in his going forward.
困于葛藟，未當也。動悔有悔，吉行也。
困於葛藟，是位置未當。動而悔之而後行則吉。
Straitened, hemmed in, exhausted — the lake with its water drained away. Not defeat: confinement.
To cover, obscure (archaic form of 掩) — the strong lines covered by the weak: the hexagram's defining structure.
To see, meet face to face. 'Three years without a meeting' — prolonged isolation.
The knee-cover of ceremonial dress — red or scarlet, an emblem of rank. Here, honors that themselves confine.
Thorny caltrop plant — the worst possible handhold: what you lean on wounds you.
The ancient punishments of cutting off the nose and the feet — mutilation as figure for a ruler stripped of efficacy.
Trailing creeper vines — entanglement that tightens the more you struggle carelessly.
Wobbling, unsteady, ill at ease — perched where nothing is secure.
