Hexagram 3
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屯 (Zhūn)
•
Zhūn
Difficulty at the Beginning
Difficulty at the Beginning (屯 (Zhūn)): Upper Water, Lower Thunder. Turbulence precedes orderly growth. Do not act precipitously; establish helpers.
Upper Trigram
Water
Lower Trigram
Thunder
⚖ The Judgment
Turbulence precedes orderly growth. Do not act precipitously; establish helpers.
✧ The Image
Clouds and thunder; the noble person brings order out of primordial chaos.
Philosophical Interpretation
In the I Ching (Book of Changes), Hexagram 3 (Difficulty at the Beginning / 屯 (Zhūn)) embodies the cosmic dynamic between Water above and Thunder below. It teaches that wisdom arises from understanding seasonal transitions and adhering to moral constancy.
The Six Changing Lines
- 1 Line 1: Beginning phase of Difficulty at the Beginning; observe quiet reserve.
- 2 Line 2: Inner equilibrium aligned with virtuous company.
- 3 Line 3: Transition point; rash action invites complication.
- 4 Line 4: Deep breakthrough; sincerity dissipates lingering doubts.
- 5 Line 5: Central sovereign seat; radiant integrity guides the collective.
- 6 Line 6: Culmination and apex; beware hubris as the cycle turns.