Hexagram 39: Obstruction
Outer trigram (upper)
Khảm
Water · Water
Inner trigram (lower)
Cấn
Mountain · Earth
Judgment
蹇：利西南，不利東北，利見大人，貞吉.
Translation
Difficulty (the path ahead is blocked): favorable to the southwest, unfavorable to the northeast. It is favorable to meet a great person; holding to what is correct brings good fortune.
Commentary
Kan above represents danger, Gen below represents stillness. Facing danger, one stops rather than advancing recklessly into peril. The southwest corresponds to Kun (flat, level land — ease), the northeast to Gen (mountains — danger). In times of difficulty, one should seek out favorable ground and the help of a great person.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yin)
初六：往蹇，來譽.
Translation
Advancing brings difficulty; withdrawing earns praise.
Commentary
Line 1, yin, sits at the very bottom. Knowing when to withdraw is the right course — not rushing recklessly into danger — and this earns praise.
Line 2 (yin)
六二：王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故.
Translation
The king's minister faces difficulty upon difficulty, not for his own sake.
Commentary
Line 2, yin, holds both the center and the correct position, and corresponds with line 5. It endures mounting difficulty for the sake of the king (line 5), not for personal gain — this is the virtue of a loyal minister.
Line 3 (yang)
九三：往蹇，來反.
Translation
Advancing brings difficulty; withdrawing means returning to one's own.
Commentary
Line 3, yang, sits at the top of the lower trigram, with the yin lines beneath it relying on its support. Advancing brings difficulty, so it withdraws in order to reassure and steady those who depend on it.
Line 4 (yin)
六四：往蹇，來連.
Translation
Advancing brings difficulty; withdrawing means joining forces.
Commentary
Line 4, yin, holds the correct position but not the center. Advancing brings difficulty, so it withdraws and joins with line 3, yang, to face the difficulty together.
Line 5 (yang)
九五：大蹇，朋來.
Translation
Great difficulty; companions arrive to help.
Commentary
Line 5, yang, holds the central, correct position at the place of honor, and faces the greatest difficulty of all. But because of its virtue, companions come to its aid — line 2 corresponding to it, line 4 close by.
Line 6 (yin)
上六：往蹇，來碩，吉，利見大人.
Translation
Advancing brings difficulty; withdrawing brings growth and strength. Good fortune; it is favorable to meet a great person.
Commentary
Line 6, yin, sits at the very top. Unable to advance, it withdraws to help line 5, the great person, overcome the difficulty, and in doing so grows strong — good fortune.