I Ching Hexagram 52 - Ken / Keeping Still, Mountain

• Above Ken Keeping Still, Mountain
•  
• Below Ken Keeping Still, Mountain

Introduction

The image of this hexagram is the mountain, the youngest son of heaven and earth. The male principle is at the top because it strives upward by nature; the female principle is below, since the direction of its movement has come to its normal end. In its application to man, the hexagram turns upon the problem of achieving a quiet heart. It is very difficult to bring quiet to the heart. While Buddhism strives for rest through an ebbing away of all movement in nirvana, the Book of Changes holds that rest is merely a state of polarity that always posits movement as its complement. Possibly the words of the text embody directions for the practice of yoga.

See the James Legge translation of this hexagram.

Judgement

Keeping Still. Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. He goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.

Judgement Commentary

True quiet means keeping still when the time has come to keep still, and going forward when the time has come to go forward. In this way rest and movement are in agreement with the demands of the time, and thus there is light in life. The hexagram signifies the end and the beginning of all movement. The back is named because in the back are located all the nerve fibers that mediate movement. If the movement of these spinal nerves is brought to a standstill, the ego, with its restlessness, disappears as it were. When a man has thus become calm, he may turn to the outside world. He no longer sees in it the struggle and tumult of individual beings, and therefore he has that true peace of mind which is needed for understanding the great laws of the universe and for acting in harmony with them. Whoever acts from these deep levels makes no mistakes.

The Image

Mountains standing close together: The image of Keeping Still. Thus the superior man does not permit his thoughts to go beyond his situation.

Image Commentary

The heart thinks constantly. This cannot be changed, but the movements of the heart-that is, a man's thoughts-should restrict themselves to the immediate situation. All thinking that goes beyond this only makes the heart sore.

The Lines

Six at the beginning means: Keeping his toes still, no blame. Continued perseverance furthers.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 22 - Pi / Grace. This line is able to restrain itself from trouble easily. It does however need to maintain its determination to avoid backsliding. Legge says "...from the first men should rest in, and be anxious to do, what is right in all their affairs." By restraining ones baser impulses we save ourselves from future problems. The resultant hexagram is, 22 Grace, a forecast of successes in inconsequential things. Perhaps we should concentrate on more important things?

Six in the second place means: Keeping his calves still. He cannot rescue him whom he follows. His heart is not glad.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 18 - Ku / Work on what has been spoiled (Decay). Here the restraining influence is weaker than what needs restraining. Hence the disappointment at its failure. Legge says this line "...should help it but is unable to do so; and there results dissatisfaction." The outcome is represented by hexagram 18, Decay, a clear augury that the failure of restraint here will lead to degeneration of the person or situation being enquired about.

Nine in the third place means: Keeping his hips still. Making his sacrum stiff. Dangerous. The heart suffocates.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 23 - Po / Splitting Apart. Controlling the mind using forceable means causes more trouble than it solves. Legge is clear here "The situation is perilous, and the heart glows with suppressed excitement...dissatisfaction increases to an angry heat." Develop an inner peace do not suppress inner anger. The resultant hexagram 23, Splitting Apart, shows the result of this lines attempts to suppress problems will not end well.

Six in the fourth place means: Keeping his trunk still. No blame.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 56 - Lu / The Wanderer. The inner stillness this line achieves is incomplete. He still needs to exercise a healthy caution and persevere with his training of his ego. Legge says this line "...shows its subject keeping his trunk at rest. There will be no error." The resultant hexagram 56, The Wanderer is hardly a positive outcome. Perhaps the lesson here is that over concern with self cultivation leads to isolation.

Six in the fifth place means: Keeping his jaws still. The words have order. Remorse disappears.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 53 - Chien / Development (Gradual Progress). Thinking before talking is always wise and this line has learned that lesson well. In Legge's version we have this line "...keeping his jawbones at rest, so that his words are all orderly." The resultant hexagram is 53, Gradual Progress, an outcome where progress is slow and measured, much like the words that come out of the subject of this lines mouth. After all gradual progress is better than no progress.

Nine at the top means: Noble hearted keeping still. Good fortune.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 15 - Ch'ien / Modesty. Self mastery has been gained by this line and this is good for him. Legge's interpretation is "...shows its subject devotedly maintaining his restfulness. There will be good fortune." The outcome hexagram is 15, Modesty. "It is the law of heaven to make fullness empty and to make full what is modest." Whether this state of affairs is good for anyone but the subject of this line I leave up to you to judge.

See the James Legge - I Ching Hexagram 52 - Ken / Keeping Still, Mountain translation of this hexagram.