Hexagram 57 · The Gentle

巽 · Xùn

Hexagram 57, The Gentle (巽, Xùn), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Wind below and Wind above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “小亨，利有攸往，利见大人。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with gentleness — wind-like, persistent penetration. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Wind (巽) — gentleness and quiet penetration
Upper trigram: Wind (巽) — gentleness and quiet penetration
Symbol: ䷸ · Name: 巽 (Xùn) · Number: 57 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yin) (初六)
   进退，利武人之贞。
   The Image says: “进退”，志疑也；“利武人之贞”，志治也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   巽在床下，用史巫纷若，吉，无咎。
   The Image says: “纷若”之“吉”，得中也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   频巽，吝。
   The Image says: “频巽”之“吝”，志穷也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   悔亡，田获三品。
   The Image says: “田获三品”，有功也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   贞吉，悔亡，无不利。无初有终。先庚三日，后庚三日，吉。
   The Image says: 九五之“吉”，位正中也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   巽在床下，丧其资斧，贞凶。
   The Image says: “巽在床下”，上穷也；“丧其资斧”，正乎“凶”也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 57?

Hexagram 57 is The Gentle (巽, Xùn), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Wind below and Wind above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Gentle?

The judgment of The Gentle reads, in the Chinese original: “小亨，利有攸往，利见大人。”. Its Great Image reads: “随风，巽。君子以申命行事。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Gentle symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Gentle is associated with gentleness — wind-like, persistent penetration. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.