gènAlso known as “Keeping Still” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Kăn” (Legge)
stillnessstoppingmeditation
In plain words
Mountain upon mountain: keeping still. Still the back so the self is not felt, walk in the courtyard without seeing the people — rest at the right time, move at the right time.
The attitude it asks for
Stop when stopping is right; quiet the body and the restless mind, and don't overstep your place.
When one's resting is like that of the back, and he loses all consciousness of self; when he walks in his courtyard, and does not see any (of the persons) in it,—there will be no error.
Kăn denotes stopping or resting;—resting when it is the time to rest, and acting when it is the time to act. When one's movements and restings all take place at the proper time for them, his way (of proceeding) is brilliant and intelligent.
Resting in one's resting-point is resting in one's proper place. The upper and lower (lines of the hexagram) exactly correspond to each other, but are without any interaction; hence it is said that '(the subject of the hexagram) has no consciousness of self; that when he walks in his courtyard, he does not see (any of) the persons in it; and that there will be no error.'
The Image
兼山，艮；君子以思不出其位。
(Two trigrams representing) a mountain, one over the other, form Kăn. The superior man, in accordance with this, does not go in his thoughts beyond the (duties of the) position in which he is.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
敦艮，吉。
The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject devotedly maintaining his restfulness. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
敦艮之吉，以厚終也。
'There is good fortune through his devotedly maintaining his restfulness:'—to the end he shows himself generous and good.
The third line, undivided, shows its subject keeping his loins at rest, and separating the ribs (from the body below). The situation is perilous, and the heart glows with suppressed excitement.
Its symbolism
艮其限，危熏心也。
'He keeps the loins at rest:'—the danger (from his doing so) produces a glowing heat in the heart.
The second line, divided, shows its subject keeping the calves of his legs at rest. He cannot help (the subject of the line above) whom he follows, and is dissatisfied in his mind.
Its symbolism
不拯其隨，未退聽也。
'He cannot help him whom he follows:'—(he whom he follows) will not retreat to listen to him.
The first line, divided, shows its subject keeping his toes at rest. There will be no error; but it will be advantageous for him to be persistently firm and correct.
Its symbolism
艮其趾，未失正也。
'He keeps his toes at rest:'—he does not fail in what is correct (according to the idea of the figure).
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 52, Stillness (Mountain), mean?
Mountain upon mountain: keeping still. Still the back so the self is not felt, walk in the courtyard without seeing the people — rest at the right time, move at the right time.
Which trigrams form Stillness (Mountain)?
艮 above 艮 — mountain over mountain. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 解 Release.
What happens when a line of Stillness (Mountain) changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Stillness (Mountain) in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern - - - - — - - - - — is Stillness (Mountain). You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.