The Gentle (Xùn)

Judgment

巽：小亨，利有攸往，利见大人。

Plain Meaning：The gentle: small success; it profits to go somewhere and to see the great person.

Image (Great Commentary)

随风，巽；君子以申命行事。

Line Texts

• 初六进退，利武人之贞。

  Wavering advance and retreat—the soldier’s resolve furthers.

• 九二巽在床下，用史巫纷若，吉无咎。

  Humbling beneath the bed, invoking priests and diviners in earnest—fortune, no blame.

• 九三频巽，吝。

  Forced, repeated deference—humiliation.

• 六四悔亡，田获三品。

  Remorse gone; the hunt yields threefold game.

• 九五贞吉悔亡，无不利。无初有终，先庚三日，后庚三日，吉。

  Steadfast fortune; no beginning but a good end—deliberate three days before and after the change; fortune.

• 上九巽在床下，丧其资斧，贞凶。

  Groveling beneath the bed, losing one’s axe of authority—persisting is ominous.

Symbolism

Wind following wind: gentle penetration and follow-through.

Life Lesson

Gentleness works only with inner resolve; repeat and reinforce your directives.

Modern Application

Drive change by patient, repeated communication—humble but not servile.

Words of Caution

Excessive submission forfeits your own authority.