Hexagram 3 Line 1: 初九
Zhun —屯 —Difficulty at the Beginning
Position: Line 1 (Lower Trigram)初九 —Yang ⚊ (Solid)Register: blameless
Classical Chinese Text
初九 磐桓。利居貞。利建侯。
磐páncliffs
桓huánall around
利lìworthwhile
居jūto stay
貞zhēnpersistence
利lìworthwhile
建jiànto enlist
侯hóudelegates
Line Commentary
Stuck at the threshold. This isn't the moment to push through—it's the moment to establish your base. Find allies who share your aim. Humility attracts the right help; arrogance repels it.
When This Line Changes
If Line 1 changes, Hexagram 3 Zhun (Difficulty at the Beginning) transforms into Hexagram 8 Bi (Holding Together).
Parent Hexagram
Difficulty at the Beginning
Zhun屯 (3)
Water (坎) over Thunder (震)
Upper Trigram: ☵ Water | Lower Trigram: ☳ Thunder