I Ching hexagram
47. Oppression
困Kùn
Lake over Water
Also called Exhaustion, The Symbol of Repression and Confinement, Adversity, Weariness, Confining, Entangled, Hardship, Depression, Tiresome Restriction, Dried Up, "Actions speak louder than words." -- D.F. Hook
Hexagram 47, Oppression (困 Kùn) is formed by Lake over Water. It is also known as Exhaustion, The Symbol of Repression and Confinement, Adversity, Weariness, Confining, Entangled, Hardship, Depression.
Legge
Read as
The judgment
Legge
亨，貞，大人吉，无咎，有言不信。
Oppression means that successful progress is still possible. The perseverance of the truly great man brings good fortune without error; but if he relies on words, no one will believe them.
The six lines
line 1 is at the bottom
- Line 1Yin
臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三歲不覿。
You risk falling into a trap created by a challenging situation of your own making. Discouragement has set a pattern for failure, which will only continue if you don’t address it now.
- Line 2Yang
困于酒食，朱紱方來，利用享祀，征凶，无咎。
The adversity you face now stems from boredom. Easy indulgences may distract you. Consider dedicating yourself to a meaningful cause, as there is redemption in selfless acts.
- Line 3Yin
困于石，據于蒺藜，入于其宮，不見其妻，凶。
You are allowing yourself to feel burdened by things that aren't truly oppressive. You depend on unsupportive factors. Your priorities are clear, but you fail to see them, leading to misfortune.
- Line 4Yang
來徐徐，困于金車，吝，有終。
Your progress is hindered by your current standing. Even with good intentions, temptations may divert you from your path. Some embarrassment may arise, but you will still achieve your objective.
- Line 5Yang
劓刖，困于赤紱，乃徐有說，利用祭祀。
There is frustratingly little information in your environment. Bureaucratic obstacles hinder progress, leaving those in need stranded. Your best course is to remain calm until circumstances improve.
- Line 6Yin
困于葛藟，于臲卼，曰動悔。有悔，征吉。
Don't let past difficulties shape your outlook on the future. If you've become cynical or rigid in your views, you're off track. Shift your mindset, and the situation will improve. Good fortune awaits.
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 47 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.