Line 1 Yin
Advance and retreat reveal uncertainty. A soldier's steadiness can turn hesitant probing into a chosen course.
← The 64 hexagrams
HEXAGRAM 57 · Xùn
Gentle Penetration
Gentle, repeated influence can reach deeply when purpose and conduct are clear.
☴ Above: Xun · Wind☴ Below: Xun · Wind
Meaning
Following winds suggest gradual penetration. Be receptive without losing direction: instructions need clear repetition and execution, while excessive submission can weaken the ability to act.
FOR REFLECTION
Am I listening with purpose or yielding because I cannot decide?
The six lines
Read from line 1 at the bottom to line 6 at the top. These are paraphrases, not verbatim translations.
Line 2 Yang
Beneath the bed, ritual officers and diviners work attentively. Humility joined with thorough examination can avoid blame.
Line 3 Yang
Repeated submission ends in embarrassment. Constant yielding cannot substitute for a clear intention.
Line 4 Yin
Regret disappears and the hunt yields three kinds of game. A fitting, receptive approach can produce useful results.
Line 5 Yang
The beginning is imperfect but the ending can improve. Three days before and after the change suggest preparation and review.
Line 6 Yang
Submission beneath the bed ends with lost possessions and axe. Excessive yielding can strip away the means of independent action.
References
Classical Zhouyi · 巽James Legge, The Yî King (1882), Sacred Books of the East XVI, hexagram 57
Editorial policy & bibliography →For reference and reflection. This commentary makes no certain claim about the future.