Line 1 Yin
The wild goose reaches the shore; the young face danger and criticism. An unsettled beginning is not itself a fault.
← The 64 hexagrams
HEXAGRAM 53 · Jiàn
Gradual Development
Appropriate stages allow what is growing to find a lasting place.
☴ Above: Xun · Wind☶ Below: Gen · Mountain
Meaning
A tree on a mountain grows slowly and firmly. The wild goose finds successive resting places, while marriage imagery emphasizes time, order, and cultivated relationships.
FOR REFLECTION
What does this stage actually require, instead of jumping to the final outcome?
The six lines
Read from line 1 at the bottom to line 6 at the top. These are paraphrases, not verbatim translations.
Line 2 Yin
The goose settles on a firm rock and feeds peacefully. A secure base allows nourishment and shared development.
Line 3 Yang
The goose reaches dry land; the husband does not return and the pregnancy fails. Protect connections rather than advancing into separation.
Line 4 Yin
The goose reaches a tree and may find a suitable level branch. Adapt by choosing a support that truly fits.
Line 5 Yang
The goose reaches a hill; three childless years do not let obstruction prevail forever. Development may require a long interval.
Line 6 Yang
The goose reaches high land, its feathers fit for ceremony. Mature development can contribute beauty to a shared tradition.
References
Classical Zhouyi · 漸James Legge, The Yî King (1882), Sacred Books of the East XVI, hexagram 53
Editorial policy & bibliography →For reference and reflection. This commentary makes no certain claim about the future.