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Hexagram 53
漸Jiàn
A bond or position taking form through ordered stages.
The woman's marriage is favorable. Constancy is beneficial.
女歸吉，利貞。
A tree grows on the mountain: Development. The exemplary person cultivates virtue and improves customs.
山上有木，漸。君子以居賢德，善俗。
Bottom to top
Line 1
鴻漸于干，小子厲，有言，无咎。
The wild goose advances to the riverbank. A young person faces danger and criticism, yet there is no fault.
The goose reaches the riverbank in Line 1; the young person faces danger and criticism, though the verdict is no fault. Changing the line makes Fire below Wind, Hexagram 37. Its household theme contrasts with the exposed first arrival.
Read Line 1 in contextLine 2
鴻漸于磐，飲食衎衎，吉。
The wild goose advances to a broad rock. Eating and drinking in contentment. Favorable.
A broad rock offers a secure place for food and ease at Line 2. Its change makes Wind below Wind, Hexagram 57. The settled landing can be compared with repeated wind and gradual influence.
Read Line 2 in contextLine 3
鴻漸于陸，夫征不復，婦孕不育，凶，利御寇。
The wild goose advances to high ground. The husband goes on campaign and does not return; the wife is pregnant, but her child is not reared. Misfortune. Repelling raiders is beneficial.
Campaigning, a pregnancy without a child being reared, and defense against raiders make Line 3 a troubled stage of advance. Its change makes Earth below Wind, Hexagram 20. Observation offers a different perspective on these scenes.
Read Line 3 in contextLine 4
鴻漸于木，或得其桷，无咎。
The wild goose advances to a tree and may find a level branch. No fault.
A goose is not at home in a tree, though the line allows that it may find a level branch. Changing Line 4 makes Heaven above Mountain, Hexagram 33. The possible perch and the theme of retreat both raise the question of where to rest.
Read Line 4 in contextLine 5
鴻漸于陵，婦三歲不孕，終莫之勝，吉。
The wild goose advances to the hill. The woman does not conceive for three years; in the end, nothing can prevent their union. Favorable.
The three-year delay in Line 5 concerns a union that eventually overcomes its obstruction. Changing it makes Mountain above Mountain, Hexagram 52. The contrast is between delayed development and stillness.
Read Line 5 in contextLine 6
鴻漸于陸，其羽可用為儀，吉。
The wild goose advances to high ground. Its feathers can be used in ritual array. Favorable.
The final goose image gives its feathers a ceremonial use. Changing Line 6 makes Water above Mountain, Hexagram 39. The mountain stays below while Water replaces Wind above, setting the elevated ritual image beside the theme of obstruction.
Read Line 6 in contextOne line away
One classical protocol
A cast determines which part of a hexagram governs the reading. When one line moves, that line is read as the focus; other moving-line counts use different focus rules.
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