Hexagram 39
水山蹇
Obstruction
Hexagram 39, Jian (Obstruction), is Water over Mountain - a river blocked by the heights, unable to flow forward.
Upper Trigram
☵
坎 (水)
Lower Trigram
☶
艮 (土)
Palace
兑 Palace
Shi / Ying Lines
Shi: Line 4 · Ying: Line 1
The 坎 trigram (水) sits above the 艮 trigram (土), forming 水山蹇. This hexagram belongs to the 兑 Palace.
Judgment (卦辞)
Obstruction. The southwest furthers. The northeast does not further.
Judgment text follows the Wilhelm–Baynes translation (The I Ching or Book of Changes, Princeton University Press), quoted for commentary.
Image (象辞)
Water on the mountain: the image of Obstruction.
Line Texts (爻辞)
Going leads to obstructions, coming meets with praise. (往蹇)
The king's servant beset by obstruction. Not his fault. (王臣蹇蹇)
Going leads to obstructions; hence he comes back. (往蹇)
Going leads to obstructions, coming leads to union. (往蹇)
In the midst of greatest obstructions, friends come. (大蹇)
Going leads to obstructions, coming leads to great fortune. (往蹇)
Hexagram 39 in Love & Relationships
Relationships: A deadlock is not broken by force. Step back, gather allies and perspective, return from another angle.
Hexagram 39 in Career & Decisions
Career: When the direct route is blocked, stop pushing. Turn, seek help, find the level ground.
Hexagram 39 as a yes / no answer
Leans no
The hexagram's core image counsels restraint — forcing now works against you.
The I Ching reads situations, not fixed outcomes — your reading can weigh the moving lines with this leaning.
In-Depth Analysis[+]
Hexagram 39, Jian (Obstruction), is Water over Mountain - a river blocked by the heights, unable to flow forward. This is the hexagram of difficulty, of obstacles that cannot be forced. The judgment is directional: 'the southwest furthers, the northeast does not' - when the direct path is blocked, turn toward the easy, level ground. The lines repeat a single refrain: going leads to obstruction, coming back meets with praise. Jian teaches that the wise person, facing a wall, does not batter it down but turns, gathers allies, and approaches from another angle.
Historical Stories[+]
Hannibal's crossing of the Alps: when the direct route south was blocked, he went over the mountains - the obstruction that defined his legend rather than ended it.
The Cuban Missile Crisis: Kennedy, facing an impossible obstruction, chose the indirect path of blockade and negotiation over direct confrontation, turning back from the brink.
Practical Applications[+]
Career: When the direct route is blocked, stop pushing. Turn, seek help, find the level ground.
Relationships: A deadlock is not broken by force. Step back, gather allies and perspective, return from another angle.
Personal Growth: Obstruction is information. It tells you the current direction is wrong - turn before you exhaust yourself.
Classical Sources for Hexagram 39
易隐 (The Hidden Changes)清 (Qing Dynasty, 1644–1912)
Advanced analytical frameworks for hexagram interpretation: Flying/Hidden lines, Six Animals contextual dynamics, and inter-hexagram comparison logic.
Related Hexagrams
Learn More
Wonder how Hexagram 39 applies to your situation?
Ask the I Ching about Hexagram 39