Hexagram 12: Stagnation
Outer trigram (upper)
Càn
Heaven · Metal
Inner trigram (lower)
Khôn
Earth · Earth
Judgment
否之匪人，不利君子貞，大往小來.
Bí chi phi nhân, bất lợi quân tử trinh, đại vãng tiểu lai.
Translation
This is not the way of humanity — it works against the proper path of the noble person. Its image is the great (yang) departing while the small (yin) arrives.
Commentary
This hexagram is the opposite of Peace. In Peace, yang rises from below to meet yin descending from above; here, yang continues rising away at the top while yin continues sinking away at the bottom — the two never meet. When yin and yang fail to meet, blockage results, and this holds true both in human affairs and throughout the natural world. Such a time does not favor the proper path of the noble person, because as yang departs, the way of the noble person steadily fades, while as yin advances, the way of the small-minded person steadily grows. The Commentary on the Images advises: when facing a time of standstill, the noble person should draw their virtue inward — refrain from acting outwardly, and simply preserve their own integrity — to avoid disaster, and should not covet any scrap of profit or reputation.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yin)
初六：拔茅茹，以其彙，貞吉亨.
Translation
Pulling up a tuft of cogon grass brings up the whole clump with it; if one holds firmly to what is right, this brings good fortune and smooth progress.
Commentary
This line closely echoes line 1 of Peace: the same image of pulling up cogon grass and bringing the whole clump with it, since here too the line is linked with the two lines above it, giving it companions and making success easy to achieve. The difference is that in Peace, line 1 is yang, representing the noble person, while here line 1 is yin, representing the small-minded person. So Peace advises simply pressing forward, since that is already correct; this hexagram instead advises holding firm and steady in what is right (a matter of constancy rather than mere correctness), which will then bring good fortune and smooth progress.
Line 2 (yin)
六二：包承，小人吉；大人否，亨.
Translation
If the small-minded person bears with and submits to the noble person, this brings good fortune; the person of great virtue should hold to their own integrity through this time of blockage, and this brings smooth progress.
Commentary
Although this line represents a small-minded person, it holds both the central and correct position; surrounded though it is by other small-minded people, it corresponds with noble line 5 above — so the line advises it to submit to the noble person, which brings good fortune. As for the person of great virtue who finds small-minded people submitting to them — often only to buy themselves a good name — that person should not go along with them, but should hold to their own integrity through this time of hardship, and this will bring smooth progress.
Line 3 (yin)
六三：包羞.
Translation
Harboring deceit and wrongdoing within — a cause for shame.
Commentary
This line is neither central nor correctly placed, and stands at the head of the small-minded people (being at the top of the inner trigram, Earth) — making it thoroughly unworthy and contemptible.
Line 4 (yang)
九四：有命，无咎，疇離祉.
Translation
When the mandate of heaven arrives — that is, when the moment is right — there is no fault, and one's companions too will draw on this and share in the blessing.
Commentary
This line sits past the midpoint of Standstill, when the blockage shows the first signs of easing — hence the sense that the moment has arrived. It is a yang line within the outer trigram Heaven, representing the noble person now able to carry out their intent. Its companions, lines 5 and 6, are likewise yang, and they too will share in the blessing.
Line 5 (yang)
九五：休否，大人吉，其亡，其亡，繫于苞桑.
Translation
Bringing the standstill to an end — this is the auspicious course for the person of great virtue, though caution must still be kept. 'It might all be lost, it might all be lost' — holding fast to this thought is what keeps things as secure as a clump of wild mulberry, whose tangled roots run deep and are hard to pull free.
Commentary
This line has the virtue of yang strength, centrality, and correctness, and occupies the position of highest honor, at a time when Standstill is nearly over — hence the favorable judgment. Even so, care and caution are still required. According to the Commentary on the Attached Words (Part 2, Chapter 5), Confucius, on reading this line, added: the noble person, when at peace, should not forget that danger may come; when secure, should not forget that all may be lost; when order prevails, should not forget that chaos may follow. It is precisely this vigilance that keeps one's own life secure and one's country stable.
Line 6 (yang)
上九：傾否，先否，後喜.
Translation
The standstill is overturned at last — blockage at first, joy afterward.
Commentary
This is the final phase of Standstill — and when blockage reaches its extreme, Peace returns. A capable noble person, leading their companions (lines 4 and 5) along, is able to overturn the standstill. At first there is still cause for worry, but afterward comes joy, as the time gives way once more to Peace.