Hexagram 47:

kùn exhaustion, oppression; beset, afflicted, tired

By Augustin Chan · Last updated 2025

Upper Trigram
Lower Trigram

Judgment

kùnexhaustion, oppression; beset, afflicted, tired
hēngfulfillment, satisfaction, success, completion
zhēnand, with persistence, determination, focus
to, for a the mature, complete, full, great
rénhuman being, character, one, person
promise, hope; an opportunity
no; not; without, with no
jiùblame; wrong; a mistake, an error
yǒubut to have, remember; there will be
yánthe, this, these words, talk, theory
is, but not, no; still wants, needs; without
xìnto believe; the, ir assurance, conviction

困。亨。贞。大人吉。无咎。有言不信。

Image

the lake, pool, pond, marsh
without, with no; has no; lacks, wants
shuǐwater, flow
kùnexhaustion
jūnnoble, worthy, honored
young one, heir, disciple
accordingly, therefore, thus
zhìinvokes, involves; calls for, upon
mìnga higher order, power, purpose; command
suìto follow through; succeed in, carry out
zhìthe aim, intent(ion), objective; resolve

泽无水,困。君子以致命遂志。

历史殉道

Hexagram 47 digital artifact

司马迁《报任安书》

司马迁 (公元前91年)

公元前99年。汉廷之上。太史令司马迁为李陵将军辩护——李陵在箭尽粮绝后向匈奴投降。汉武帝本就多疑,将此视为对自己决断的批评。判决:死刑,或宫刑。 司马迁选择了宫刑。并非出于懦弱——自尽才是体面之道,他比任何人都清楚。正如他后来所写:「人固有一死,或重于泰山,或轻于鸿毛。」他判断,若在《史记》未竟之时死去,死便轻于鸿毛——毫无意义。他选择了「腐刑」,因为父亲临终的遗愿是完成史书。《史记》——130篇,跨越2500年中国历史——当时只有草稿。司马迁若死,这部著作也将随之消亡。 在多年后写给任安的信中,他形容自己的生活如同「肠一日而九回」,「居则忽忽若有所亡,出则不知所如往」。泽上水下(☱☵):喜悦压抑于险难之下。表面看似平静——史官继续他的工作——但深处流淌着永不枯竭的羞辱暗流。「有言不信」——他说的是真话,朝廷听到的是叛逆。大人之吉不是安逸——而是意义在尊严无法存续时仍能存续。

Historical Context

Period
周朝
Oracle Bone Etymology
兑(☱)在上,坎(☵)在下——喜悦枯竭,深处不可及。泽无出路;水不能升。
Traditional Use
困(困穷/困顿)描述一切行动皆徒劳的处境。泽在水上却无法汲取——资源存在却被阻断。卫礼贤译:「君子以致命遂志。」

Lines

Line 1: 臀困于株木入于幽谷三歲不覿

túnthe, with rump, buttocks, bottom, rear end
kùnbeset, distressed, afflicted, belabored
by, with
zhūcane, stick, rod, staff, branch, stem
of wood; wooden
entering; going
into; inside, through; entering
yōuthe gloomy, dismal, dark; of gloom
valley, depression, rut, hollow; the valley
sānfor three
suìyears, harvests
not; without being; without an
覿seen face to face; a visitor; encounter

Line 2: 困于酒食朱紱方來利用享祀征凶

kùnbeset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
amidst, at, before; by, with
jiǔwine, drink, spirits, refreshment
shíand food, sustenance, nourishment
zhūthe scarlet, red, vermillion
sashed nobles; sashes, leggings; gentry
fāngsuddenly, directly; with direction(s)
láiarrive, appear; approach, come
worthwhile, rewarding, beneficial
yòngand useful, productive, practical
xiǎngto offer up, present, consecrate, dedicate
the sacrifice + to give up this spirit
zhēnginitiative; to expedite, assert, go boldly
xiōngbut; it, this is not; avoids; less

Line 3: 困于石據于蒺藜入于其宮不見其妻凶

kùnbeset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
by, with, among, before
shístone, rock
seize; grab, grasp, hold, take, possession
upon, on; at; onto, on to; of
thorns, thistles, caltrops
brambles; and brambles, briars
entering; going
into, inside, within, through(out); entering
his
gōnghouse, home, chambers, dwelling
but not
jiànseeing
his
wife
xiōngunfortunate, lucky, happy; disappointing

Line 4: 來徐徐困于金車吝有終

láiapproaching, coming, arriving
slowly; haltingly, hesitantly, carefully
so slowly; and gravely
kùnbeset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
in, inside, within
jīnmetal, gilded, bronze, an expensive
chēchariot, carriage
lìnbut the, this embarrassment, humiliation
yǒuhas; will have, attain, find
zhōngan end, outcome, conclusion, limit, finale

Line 5: 劓刖困于赤紱乃徐有說利用祭祀

nose cut off; noseless
yuèand feet cut off; footless; defeated
kùnbeset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
by, amidst, among, with
chìthe blush, carnation, pink, rouge
sashed ministers; sashes, leggings
nǎiand only then, but then; although, however
slowly, gradually, carefully
yǒugetting, attaining, finding, claiming, learning
shuōrelief, release, freedom, abandon, escape
worthwhile, rewarding, beneficial
yòngand useful, productive, practical
to give, offer up; worship; sacrifice
and a, the this big, generous sacrifice

Line 6: 困于葛藟于臲卼曰動悔有悔征吉

kùnbeset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
by, with, among, amidst
creeping, creepy; creepers, crawlers, kudzu
lěiand vines, lianas
proceeding, going in, with
nièunsteadiliness; feebly, unstably, unevenly
and awkwardly(ness); uncomfortably
yuēand, while saying, uttering, speaking
dòngthat action, activity, movement, excitement
huǐis, means, brings regret(s), remorse
yǒuto have, take, claim, earn, assume, presume, own
huǐthe regret(s), remorse
zhēngand expedite, press on, go boldly forward
is promising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Practical Guidance

你被困住了,行动无法解决问题。 也许是那份工作,你的贡献被算在别人头上。也许是那段关系,你用一百种方式解释同一件事,仍然没有被听见。也许是那个系统,以你能证明却无人承认的方式针对你。你有资源——才华、证据、正当的不满——却没有渠道让它们发挥作用。泽在水上却依然干涸。 司马迁面对的是这种抉择的极端形式。他向权力说真话——为一位力战至最后一箭才投降的将军辩护——朝廷却只听到了不忠。判决是死刑或宫刑。死亡是体面的选择。他那个时代的每一位士人都知道这一点。他自己的文字证实他也知道这一点。 他选择了宫刑。不是因为他怕死,而是因为他死了,《史记》也会随之消亡。父亲毕生的心血。两千五百年的中国历史,只存在于没有其他人能完成的草稿竹简上。「腐刑」为他换来了完成真正重要之事的时间。 这就是卦象的模式:困不是关于找到出口。没有出口。而是关于在围墙坚守的同时,你保护什么。司马迁无法洗清自己的名誉,无法恢复他的尊严,无法让皇帝听到真相。但他能完成这部书。制约是绝对的;制约之内的选择是他的。 「大人吉」在这一卦中读起来像是嘲讽——直到你理解「吉」在这里意味着什么。不是安逸。不是平反。不是世界终于认可你的价值。它意味着:最重要的东西存活下来。司马迁在耻辱中又活了十年。《史记》存活了二十二个世纪。 人们忽略的是:他们不断试图解决压迫本身,而不是在压迫中工作。他们把精力花在证明自己是对的、要求被承认、撞击不会移动的墙上。泽不断试图用蛮力触及水,而蛮力不是机制。与此同时,真正的工作——那件能超越牢笼存续下去的事——搁置未完。 「有言不信。」这是困的特殊残酷。你没有错。你只是没有被听见。再多的正确也不能让他们倾听。司马迁为李陵的辩护是准确的;现代历史学家同意。这不重要。朝廷已经做出了决定。 问题不是你能否逃脱制约。你可能不能——不是现在,不是通过直接行动。问题是:你的《史记》是什么?如果你停止撞墙,开始在墙内工作,什么能存活下来?君子「以致命遂志」——不是赢得争论,不是得到平反,而是完成只有他能完成的事。 司马迁的名字在汉廷的记录中不值一提。在我们的记录中,它意味着一切。

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