Reading
Judgment
Obstruction. The southwest furthers.
The northeast does not further.
It is favorable to see the great man.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
The southwest is the region of retreat, the northeast the region of advance. It is a matter of a situation in which obstructions stand opposed to one that cannot be directly overcome. In this case it is wisdom, in the face of danger, to stop and withdraw. This retreat is, however, only the preparation for overcoming the obstructions. It is a matter of joining with like-minded friends and placing oneself under the leadership of a man who is equal to the situation; then it will succeed in removing the obstructions. For this is needed the disposition of perseverance, precisely when one must apparently do something that leads away from the goal. This unswerving inner direction finally brings good fortune. The obstruction, which lasts only for a time, is of value for the formation of one's own personality. This is the value of distress.
Image
On the mountain is water: the image of Obstruction.
Thus the noble one turns to their own person
and forms their character.
Difficulties and obstructions throw the human being back upon themself. But whereas the petty one looks for blame outside among other people and accuses fate, the noble one looks for the fault in themself, and through this turning inward the outer hindrance becomes for them an occasion for inner enrichment and formation.
Commentary
The hexagram represents a dangerous abyss lying before one; behind one is the steep, inaccessible mountain. Thus one is surrounded by obstructions. But in the attribute of the mountain, to keep still, there lies at the same time a hint of how one can get out of the obstructions. The hexagram represents obstructions that set in in the course of time, but that can and should be overcome. Therefore the whole information is directed toward overcoming the obstructions.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A six at the beginning means:
Going leads into obstructions; coming finds praise.
Commentary
When one sees oneself facing an obstruction, it is a matter of considering how best to deal with it. If danger threatens us, we must not strive forward blindly; that would only lead into entanglements. Rather it is right to withdraw first, not to give up the fight, but to await the right moment for action.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
The king's servant is in obstruction upon obstruction.
But it is not his own fault.
Commentary
While normally one best skirts around the obstruction and seeks to overcome it along the line of least resistance, there is nevertheless one case in which one must go to meet difficulty, even if difficulty piles upon difficulty: namely, when the path of duty leads one there, so that one cannot act from free resolve, but has the duty in the service of a higher cause to seek out the danger. Then one may do it, and in so doing be wholly at peace inwardly, because one has not entered into this difficult situation through one's own fault.
Line 3
A nine in the third place means:
Going leads into obstructions; so he comes back.
Commentary
Whereas the previous line shows the official who for duty's sake must go the way of danger, here is shown the man who has to act as the head of the family or of his own people. Were he to plunge frivolously into danger, it would be useless, because those entrusted to his care cannot advance alone. If, on the other hand, he withdraws and turns back to his own, they greet him with great joy.
Line 4
A six in the fourth place means:
Going leads into obstructions;
coming leads to union.
Commentary
Here too a situation is depicted that one is not equal to alone. In such a case the direct path is not the shortest. Were one, by one's own strength, to strive forward without the necessary preparations, one would not find the necessary support and would too late recognize that the calculations deceive, in that the circumstances one hoped to be able to count on prove too weak. Therefore in this case it is right first to hold back and gather reliable companions around oneself on whom one can lean, in order to overcome the obstructions.
Line 5
A nine in the fifth place means:
In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come.
Commentary
Here we see the man who is called to steer the distress. They must not try to evade the obstructions, however dangerously they may pile up before them. But since they have a truly higher calling, the power of their spirit is strong enough to draw people to them, so that they come and help, and they are able really to organize them, so that through the planned, distributed cooperation of all involved, the obstruction is overcome.
Line 6
A six at the top means:
Going leads into obstructions; coming leads to great good fortune.
It is favorable to see the great man.
Commentary
Here is depicted someone who already has the world and its bustle behind them. When the time of obstructions comes for the world, it could seem as though the simplest thing for them would be simply to leave the world behind and flee out into the beyond. But this way is barred to them. They may not become blessed alone and abandon the world to its distress. Rather, their duty calls them once more back into the bustle of the world. Precisely their experience and inner freedom then enable them to create something great and ripe that brings good fortune. And it is favorable to see the great man, with whom together one can accomplish the work of rescue.