I Ching hexagram
3. Difficulty
屯Zhūn
Earth over Water
Also called Difficulty at the Beginning, The Symbol of Bursting, Sprouting, Hoarding, Distress, Organizational Growth Pains, Difficult Beginnings, Growing Pains, Initial Obstacles, Initial Hardship
Hexagram 3, Difficulty (屯 Zhūn) is formed by Earth over Water. It is also known as Difficulty at the Beginning, The Symbol of Bursting, Sprouting, Hoarding, Distress, Organizational Growth Pains, Difficult Beginnings, Growing Pains.
Legge
Read as
The judgment
Legge
元亨利貞，勿用有攸往，利建侯。
Difficulty indicates progress and success through firm correctness. Action should not be undertaken lightly, and it is wise to seek help.
The six lines
line 1 is at the bottom
- Line 1Yang
磐桓，利居貞，利建侯。
You seem to have encountered a confusing obstacle right at the start of your journey. The best way to attract the help you need is to stay devoted and humble. Don't try to push forward alone, but keep your destination in mind.
- Line 2Yin
屯如邅如，乘馬班如。匪寇婚媾，女子貞不字，十年乃字。
Confusion and hardship are increasing, making decisions feel impossible. Accepting assistance now could create an unwanted obligation, so it may be wiser to wait for things to stabilize before continuing.
- Line 3Yin
即鹿无虞，惟入于林中，君子幾不如舍，往吝。
You can sense the difficulties that await you. If you rush headfirst into these obstacles without an experienced guide, you will surely become lost. Such arrogance leads to ongoing humiliation. A wiser person would reconsider their goals here.
- Line 4Yin
乘馬班如，求婚媾，往吉，无不利。
With a small amount of help, perhaps through a useful connection, you can achieve your aims. But you must admit that you don't have enough power to act alone. Hesitating on this point will get you nowhere.
- Line 5Yang
屯其膏，小貞吉，大貞凶。
Even though you hold a position of authority in this situation, you still have much to accomplish in establishing yourself. Small, steady efforts will bring good fortune. But be careful: don't attempt anything too ambitious, it could easily lead to disaster.
- Line 6Yin
乘馬班如，泣血漣如。
You have lost your perspective. You can no longer see your original challenges clearly, nor can you find a way out. This is regrettable and will cause you sorrow. It may be best to start over from the beginning.
When this hexagram changes
These are the moves that have come up most often in readings. Each page keeps the book text.
Use this hexagram in a reading
These are the same judgment and lines that appear when hexagram 3 comes up in a cast. Ask a question to see which lines change, or keep a journal of your readings. The throw uses the odds of three coins: how a reading is cast.