屯
Difficulty at the Beginning
La Difficulté Initiale
Zhūn
Upper trigram
Water
Lower trigram
Thunder
The Judgment
Difficulty at the Beginning. Sublime success. Favorable through perseverance. One should undertake nothing. It is advantageous to institute helpers.
The Image
Clouds and thunder: the image of Difficulty at the Beginning. Thus the superior man brings order out of chaos.
Meaning
Difficult birth, initial chaos. Like a sprout pushing through frozen earth, the beginning is arduous but full of promise.
The six lines
Line 1 (bottom)
Hesitation and obstruction. It is advantageous to remain persevering. It is advantageous to institute helpers.
Line 2
Difficulties accumulate. Horse and chariot separate. It is not a brigand, but a suitor.
Line 3
He who hunts the stag without a forester only loses his way in the forest.
Line 4
Horse and chariot separate. Seek union. Going brings good fortune. Everything is advantageous.
Line 5
Difficulties in spreading one's benefits. Small perseverance brings good fortune. Great perseverance brings misfortune.
Line 6 (top)
Horse and chariot separate. Tears of blood flow.