Hexagram 29 · Kǎn ䷜

Kan (The Repeated Abyss): There is sincerity; the heart alone brings success. Going forth wins esteem.

Six at the beginning: The repeated abyss: falling into the pit within the abyss. Misfortune.

Nine in the second place: In the abyss there is danger. Seeking, one gains something small.

Six in the third place: Coming and going, abyss upon abyss; peril is close at hand. Entering the pit within the abyss. Do not act.

Six in the fourth place: A jar of wine, a food vessel, and another earthenware jar. Pass a simple offering through the window: in the end, no blame.

Nine in the fifth place: The abyss does not overflow; the level is already even. No blame.

Six at the top: Bound with ropes and cords, placed among thorns. For three years there is no release. Misfortune.

The Judgment Commentary says: The repeated Kan is danger upon danger. Water flows without overflowing; it travels through danger without losing its trustworthiness. The heart alone succeeds because firmness holds the center. Going forth wins esteem because moving forward brings achievement. Heaven's dangers cannot be climbed; earth's dangers are mountains, rivers, hills, and ridges. Kings and lords establish defenses to guard their realms. Great indeed is the use of the Abyss in its time!

The Image Commentary says: Water flows on without cease: the repeated Kan. Thus the noble person makes virtue constant in action and practices the work of teaching.

Entering the abyss within the repeated abyss: losing the way brings misfortune.

Seeking gains something small: one has not yet left the center.

Coming and going, abyss upon abyss: in the end there is no achievement.

A jar of wine and a pair of food vessels: firm and yielding aid one another.

The abyss does not overflow: the center is not yet great.

The top six loses the way: misfortune for three years.

Repeated Kan (The Abyss): There is trust. The heart can succeed. Acting has value.

Six at the beginning: Repeated pits. Enter a deep hole within a pit. Misfortune.

Nine in the second place: There is danger in the pit. Seek only a small gain.

Six in the third place: Coming or going, there are pits everywhere. Danger is close at hand. Entering the deep hole in the pit: do not act.

Six in the fourth place: A jar of wine and a bowl of food, with another offered in an earthen vessel. Pass them through the window in a simple ceremony. In the end, no blame.

Nine in the fifth place: The pit does not overflow. It is filled only to the level of its rim. No blame.

Six at the top: Bound with rope and cord and placed among thorny bushes. For three years he cannot get out. Misfortune.

The Judgment Commentary says: Repeated Kan means danger on top of danger. Water flows without overflowing; it travels through danger and remains true to its nature. The heart succeeds because the firm line is central. Action has value because going forward accomplishes something. Heaven's dangers cannot be climbed over. Earth's dangers are mountains, streams, hills, and ridges. Kings and dukes set up defenses to protect their states. How important is the use of Kan at the right time!

The Image Commentary says: Water flows in repeated waves: this is repeated Kan. The noble person therefore practices good conduct consistently and repeats his teaching.

Repeated pits and entering a deep hole mean losing the way and meeting misfortune.

Seeking a small gain means not yet getting out of the central danger.

Pits in both directions mean there is no success in the end.

A jar of wine and a bowl of food, with another vessel, mean firm and yielding support each other.

The pit does not overflow because its center has not yet become great.

The six at the top loses the way, bringing misfortune for three years.