泽水困
困境穷厄，守正待通
The Judgment
Oppression: success. Perseverance. The great man brings about good fortune. No blame. When one has something to say, it is not believed.
The hexagram of Oppression shows a lake drained dry, a condition of want and exhaustion. Yet within adversity the way can still open; holding fast, the great man finds good fortune and no blame. But in such times, words spoken carry no weight and win no belief.
泽无水，困。君子以致命遂志。
困，刚掩也。险以说，困而不失其所亨，其唯君子乎。贞大人吉，以刚中也。有言不信，尚口乃穷也。
Interpretation(original text)
困，穷困、困顿也。泽中无水、刚被阴掩，有才德而不得伸展之象。然困而不失其道，《彖》曰「困而不失其所亨，其唯君子乎」。困境中仍能亨通者，唯有不改其志的君子。困虽难，却是磨炼意志、验证德行的试金石。
上兑为泽，下坎为水。泽在上而水在下，水在泽底而泽中干涸，有枯竭困顿之象。程颐释曰：「泽无水则枯竭，困之象也。」坎险在内，兑悦在外，内困而外示欣悦——此君子处困之道：虽内心忧苦而外表从容。坎水被困于泽中不得流通，才能被困而不得施展。
九二居下卦之中，阳刚中正却被初六、六三二阴包围，刚为柔困之象。九五居上卦之中，阳刚中正却被上六所掩，亦刚困之象。二五皆「刚中」而皆困，为全卦之主爻。初六、六三、上六三阴分居内外，掩蔽阳刚。朱熹曰：「刚为柔掩，不得伸也。」
困继升之后。《序卦》曰：「升而不已必困，故受之以困。」上升不止终将穷困。升与困的关系警示：凡事过度追求则必入困境。困与井互为综卦，困为穷竭、井为供养，困极则思井养。朱熹曰：「困穷则思通，通则井养不穷。」困井一组，困以省身、井以养德。
The Lines
One sits oppressed upon a bare tree stump and strays into a gloomy valley. For three years one sees nothing.
Hemmed in on a withered stump, he wanders into a shadowed ravine and for three years sees no one. At the outset of oppression, the hardship is at its bleakest.
Image: 入于幽谷，幽不明也。
初六以阴居阳位不当，处困之初。「臀困于株木」，臀部被困于树桩上，坐立难安。「入于幽谷，三岁不觌」，陷入幽暗山谷三年不见天日。程颐释曰：「初以阴柔处困之最下，昏暗之极，入于幽谷而不能自拔。」此爻为困之最深最暗者，处境极为艰难，宜守静待时。
One is oppressed while at meat and drink. The man with the scarlet sash is just arriving. It furthers one to present an offering. To set forth brings misfortune, but no blame.
Though pressed by want of food and drink, the scarlet sash of high office is on its way; it is well to make an offering and cultivate virtue. To press ahead rashly brings misfortune, yet no real fault.
Image: 困于酒食，中有庆也。
九二以阳居阴位不当，然居下卦之中，刚中有德。「困于酒食」，被饮食之困所扰——喻有才德而不遇，物质虽丰而精神困顿。「朱绂方来」，红色蔽膝即将到来，仕途有望。朱熹曰：「刚中有德，虽暂困而终将亨通。」「利用享祀」，宜以至诚祭祀求通。此爻为困中蓄德待时之善者。
One is oppressed by stones and leans on thorns and thistles. He enters his house and does not see his wife. Misfortune.
Blocked by boulders, propped against briars, he comes home only to find his wife gone, which is misfortune. With no firm ground to stand on, he is caught in the direst straits.
Image: 据于蒺藜，乘刚也。入于其宫，不见其妻，不祥也。
六三以阴居阳位不当，处内卦之极。「困于石，据于蒺藜」，被巨石所困、坐在荆棘之上，前后皆不可安。「入其宫不见其妻」，回家却不见妻子。王弼注：「进则困于石，退则据于蒺藜，居不安处不定。」六三不中不正，进退失据。此爻为困之最无方向者，须彻底反思自我方位。
He comes very slowly, oppressed in a carriage of gold. Humiliation, but the end is reached.
He advances slowly, hindered as if hemmed in by a gilded carriage; there is some humiliation, yet at last he arrives. Moving haltingly, he still works his way clear of the strait.
Image: 来徐徐，志在下也，虽不当位，有与也。
九四以阳居阴位不当，处上卦之初。「来徐徐，困于金车」，行进缓慢，被困于金属之车。「吝有终」，虽有遗憾但终有结果。程颐谓：「四与初应，然位不当而行迟缓，欲救初之困而力不逮。」九四处困之中虽有心助人却能力不足，行事迟缓勉强。然「有终」者，坚持终能达成目标。
His nose and feet are cut off. Oppression at the hands of the man with the scarlet sash. Joy comes softly. It furthers one to make offerings and sacrifices.
Wounded as though nose and feet were severed, oppressed even within high office, yet little by little relief and gladness come; it is well to make offerings and cultivate one's virtue.
Image: 劓刖，志未得也。乃徐有说，以中直也。利用祭祀，受福也。
九五以阳居阳位，中正尊贵，处困之中而为卦之主。「劓刖」，遭受割鼻砍足之刑——喻困之极也。然「困于赤绂」而后「乃徐有说」，困于仕途之初而后渐渐欣悦。朱熹释曰：「九五中正居尊而在困中，上下皆阴，刚中而无援。然以中正之德终能徐徐解困。」「利用祭祀」，以至诚之心方可通达。
He is oppressed by creeping vines. He moves uneasily and says, movement brings remorse. If one feels remorse over this and makes a start, then to go forward brings good fortune.
Tangled and bound by clinging vines, teetering and uneasy, he tells himself every move will bring regret; yet if he owns that regret and stirs anyway, to press forward turns out fortunate.
Image: 困于葛藟，于臲卼。曰动悔有悔，征吉。
上六以阴居阴位得正，处困之极。「困于葛藟，于臲卼」，被葛藤缠绕、处于摇摇欲坠之地。「曰动悔有悔，征吉」，自省动则有悔，然反省之后出征则吉。程颐释曰：「困极则变，能悔悟而行则吉。」困道至终，物极必反。此爻为困极而通之转机——深刻反省之后重新出发，柳暗花明。
Divination Reference(original text)
资金被套或流动性枯竭时，守正不动、修炼内功胜于盲目操作，静待时机方能解困。
处于职业低谷时保持内心的正直与信念，困境中修德蓄力，时机到则自然翻转。
感情陷入困境时多行动少言语，空洞的承诺不如实际的付出来得可信。
身体困顿时应静养调息，不宜勉强活动，保存元气待身体自然恢复。
Traditional Reading(original text)
困卦象征困顿、穷困。泽中无水，资源匮乏。身处困境之中，但君子能以坚定的意志渡过难关。困境是对品格的考验，坚守信念终将突围。
事业上陷入困境，施展空间有限。不宜妄动，应坚守岗位、磨炼意志。困境中保持信念，等待转机到来。
商业上资金紧张、经营困难。宜紧缩开支、守住底线，不可饮鸩止渴。坚持正道经营，困境终会过去。
学业上遭遇低谷，可能面临考试失利或信心受挫。不要气馁，困难是最好的老师，坚持学习终有所成。
感情上可能陷入困局，双方都感到疲惫或无力。需要真诚的沟通和坚定的信心，共渡难关后感情更牢固。
困境中做决定要格外谨慎。言多必失，不如少说多做。坚守原则、以诚待人，即使暂时不被理解也不要放弃。
School Interpretations(original text)
困者穷也。泽无水，枯竭之象。然穷则变，变则通。君子处困不失其志，以待天命。
此卦兑泽在上、坎水在下，泽中之水漏于下方而干涸，象征穷困潦倒、资源匮乏。得此卦者，运势极低，诸事不利。然而困境正是考验品格之时，坚守正道、不改初心，终将否极泰来。言行须谨慎，少说多做。
运势困顿，诸事不利，忍耐为要。
财运极差，严防亏损，守住本金。
家宅困窘，节俭度日，互相扶持。
体力不支，注意肾水不足与口舌之疾。