Hexagram 57
The Gentle (The Penetrating, Wind)
巽 (Xùn)
Wind over Wind
The image is of doubled wind. Though the wind is invisible, its influence is felt everywhere. It gently and persistently finds its way into every space. This symbolizes a power that works not through force but through subtle, continuous penetration. Like the roots of a tree gradually working their way through the earth, this influence is quiet, steady, and ultimately irresistible.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
The Judgment advises that success will be achieved not through large, dramatic actions, but through small, consistent efforts. To be effective, this gentle influence must be guided by a clear and constant purpose ("have somewhere to go"). Lacking a definite goal, your efforts will disperse like a directionless breeze. It is also highly beneficial to seek the guidance of a wise person ("see the great man") who can help clarify your goal and strategy.
The Image (象传)
The Image shows that the power of the wind comes from its consistency. It blows continuously in one direction to achieve its effect. The superior man emulates this. First, he makes his intentions and plans clear ("spreads his commands"). Then, he follows through with steady, persistent action ("carries out his undertakings"). His influence becomes powerful because it is constant and unwavering, gradually shaping the world around him.
Interpretation & Guidance
This hexagram is a call to use subtle influence rather than brute force. Your power now lies in perseverance and gentleness. To succeed, you must first have a very clear goal. Without a defined purpose, your efforts will be wasted. Once your direction is set, work towards it with small, repeated actions. Be patient and consistent. Your steady efforts will gradually penetrate all obstacles. Seeking advice from a mentor to clarify your goal is strongly recommended. Your strength is in your subtlety.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"In advancing and retreating, the perseverance of a warrior furthers."
You are in a state of indecision, wavering back and forth. Your gentle nature lacks direction. To overcome this, you must adopt the focused discipline of a warrior. A firm, clear will is needed to give your gentle influence purpose.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"Penetrating under the bed. Priests and magicians are used in great number. Good fortune. No blame."
You are dealing with hidden and dark influences ("under the bed"). Direct confrontation would fail. Instead, you must use investigation and seek the help of experts ("priests and magicians") to understand and expose these hidden forces. This indirect approach is correct and brings good fortune.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"Repeated penetration. Humiliation."
You are overthinking and overanalyzing to the point of paralysis. Your repeated attempts to find a perfect, subtle solution have dissolved into indecisiveness. This vacillation drains your power and leads to humiliation.
Six in the Fourth Place (六四)
Fourth line - Yin
"Remorse disappears. During the hunt, three kinds of game are caught."
In a position of responsibility, you successfully combine modesty with experience. Your efforts are well-directed and effective, allowing you to achieve multiple objectives at once ("three kinds of game"). This brings success and causes all regret to vanish.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五)
Fifth line - Yang
"Perseverance brings good fortune... No beginning, but an end. It furthers one to make a change three days before the old and three days after the new."
The situation needs reform. While the beginning may have been flawed, a good end is achievable through persistent effort. Change must be undertaken with great care and deliberation, considering what came before and what will come after. This thoughtful, well-planned reform will bring good fortune.
Top Nine (上九)
Top line - Yang
"Penetrating under the bed. He loses his property and his ax. Perseverance brings misfortune."
You have become too subtle and suspicious, trying to uncover hidden motives where there are none. You have delved so deep into darkness that you have lost your own strength and judgment ("property and ax"). To continue on this path of obsessive suspicion is to court disaster.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
The way to deepen your relationship now is through gentle, consistent action. Grand, dramatic gestures are less effective than the cumulative power of small, repeated acts of kindness, understanding, and affection. For your influence to be positive, you and your partner must have a clear, shared goal for the relationship. Patiently work towards that shared vision together.
Career & Business (事业)
In your career, your power now lies in subtle influence, not direct commands. To get your ideas accepted, be persistent but gentle. Repeat your message in different ways over time. For a business, this favors strategies like marketing and consistent branding that gradually penetrate the market. It is essential that the company has a clear, unwavering mission statement to guide these efforts.
Health & Wellness (健康)
This hexagram suggests that gentle, consistent practices are best for your health. Intense, forceful workouts are less beneficial now than activities like deep breathing exercises, tai chi, yoga, or daily walking. The penetrating power of the breath (wind) is particularly healing. This can also point to chronic conditions that require patient and persistent long-term care rather than a quick fix.
Financial Matters (财运)
Financial success will not come from a single bold move, but from the cumulative effect of small, consistent actions. This favors a steady, disciplined approach to saving and investing. Have a clear long-term financial goal, and let your small, regular contributions work toward it over time. The power is in the persistence, not the amount.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
The lesson of The Gentle is the profound power of perseverance in a chosen direction. Growth comes from clarifying your life's purpose and then working toward it with steady, subtle, and unwavering effort. It is the art of being like the wind—not forceful, but ever-present and pervasive, shaping the landscape over time. This develops a character that has a deep and lasting influence on the world, not through noise, but through consistency.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
This is a time for subtlety, not force. Your strength is in your persistence. The first and most crucial step is to get absolutely clear on your goal. Once you have a firm direction, pursue it with small, gentle, and repeated actions. Do not be discouraged by the slow pace. Be like the wind, which, through its constancy, can overcome any obstacle.
