3. Difficulty at the Beginning (屯)

Zhan is pronounced with Zhang and Lian. Cheng is pronounced with Sheng and Deng, or also like Sheng. Ban denotes dispersing and hesitating without advancing. Zi means to be betrothed.

The Book of Rites states: 'When a maiden is betrothed, she receives the hairpin and is given a courtesy name (zi).' Six in the second place is yin, yielding, central, and correct, having a proper correlate above, yet Riding the firm initial line below.

Thus she encounters hardship and wavers, unable to proceed. Yet the initial line is not truly a bandit; he merely seeks to unite with her in marriage. However, because she abides by correctness, she does not consent.

When ten years have passed, the cycle of numbers is exhausted and the principle reaches its culmination; then the reckless suitor departs, and she unites with her proper correlate, so that her betrothal may be granted.

As the line contains this image, it is used to admonish the diviner.

The second line, being yin and yielding, resides in the era of Difficulty at the Beginning. Although her proper correlate is above, she is pressed closely by the firm initial line; hence she experiences the distress and wavering described in the text.

'Mounting a horse' means desiring to go forward; she desires to follow her proper correlate, yet again hesitates (ban ru) and cannot advance. Ban carries the meaning of dispersal; dismounting is ban, parting company from the horse.

In this era of Difficulty at the Beginning, although the second line cannot save herself by her own power, she resides in the center and attains correctness, with a correlate above, thus not losing righteousness.

Yet being close to the initial line, yin is what yang seeks, and the yielding is what the firm encroaches upon. When the yielding encounters Difficulty at the Beginning, it is inherently hard to deliver oneself, and being pressed by the firm yang, difficulty arises.

Were she not pressed by the adversity of a bandit, she would go to seek marriage. 'Marriage' refers to the proper correlate; 'bandit' refers to that which arrives contrary to principle.

Six in the second place holds to the center and correctness, refusing to unite improperly with the initial line; this is why she does not betroth herself.

If she remains chaste, steadfast, and unswerving, then after ten years, when difficulty reaches its extremity, breakthrough must come; she will obtain her proper correlate, be betrothed, and bear children.

If even a yielding, yin maiden, by holding firmly to her resolve and chastity, is sure to find breakthrough in time, how much more so the noble man who holds unswervingly to the Dao!

Why would the initial line, being a worthy, bright, firm, and upright person, act as a bandit who encroaches upon others?

The answer is: this meaning is drawn solely from the perspective of the second line being yielding and close to the firm, without regard to the virtue of the initial line. Such is the way the Yijing derives meaning.

Six in the second place abides in the time of Difficulty at the Beginning and also Rides the firm, pressed by firm yang; this is her hardship.

When ten years are reached, enduring difficulty must eventually lead to breakthrough; she is then able to return to her normal course and unite with her proper correlate. Ten is the completion of the cycle of numbers.

Her aspiration lies with the Fifth, and she does not follow the initial line.

In a time of Difficulty at the Beginning and hardship, when the upright way has not yet prevailed, she is close to the initial line but not suited to him, hemmed in by harm and encroachment; hence she hesitates and wavers.

In the time of Difficulty at the Beginning, when difficulty just begins and the upright way is blocked, traveling far makes advancing arduous; therefore it says: 'Mounting a horse, hesitating.' 'Bandit' refers to the initial line.

Were it not for the difficulty caused by the initial line, she would be wedded to the Fifth; thus it says: 'Were it not for the bandit, there would be marriage.'

'Her aspiration lies with the Fifth' and she does not follow the initial line; hence it says: 'The maiden is chaste and does not betroth herself.' In an age of Difficulty at the Beginning, circumstances do not exceed ten years.

After ten years, things return to their normal course; returning to the normal course, her original aspiration is fulfilled. Therefore it says: 'Ten years, then she betroths herself.'

From 'Six in the second place' to 'ten years, then she betroths herself.' Correct Meaning: 'Hesitating and wavering': tun means difficulty and hardship, zhan means turning back and wavering, and ru is an expletive particle.

This means Six in the second place wishes to respond to Nine in the Fifth Place, but fears the encroachment of Nine at the Beginning and dares not proceed; hence 'hesitating and wavering.'

As for 'Mounting a horse, hesitating,' Zixia's Commentary states: ''Ban ru' means holding back and not advancing.' Ma Jichang says: ''Ban' means turning back in hesitation without advancing.'

This means the second line wishes to mount a horse and go to the Fifth, but because the upright path is not yet open, she turns back and cannot advance.

'Were it not for the bandit, there would be marriage': 'bandit' refers to the initial line; it means that if Nine at the Beginning did not act as a bandit and harm her, she would unite in marriage with the Fifth.

Ma Jichang says: 'A formal alliance through marriage is called gou.' Zheng Xuan says: ''Gou' is like meeting.' 'The maiden is chaste and does not betroth herself': zhen means correct; 'maiden' refers to Six in the second place.

The maiden maintains chastity and correctness, refusing to receive the affection of Nine at the Beginning; zi is glossed here as cherish/love or betrothal. 'Ten years, then she betroths herself': after ten years, when the hardship ceases, the initial line will no longer harm her.

She can then go to the Fifth and receive the affection and betrothal of the Fifth. Ten is the culmination of numbers; when numbers reach their limit, transformation occurs; hence it says 'ten years.'

Correct Meaning: 'The difficulty of Six in the second place arises from Riding the firm' explains the reason for 'hesitating and wavering.'

The reason she feels fear and difficulty is that she Rides and encroaches upon the firm initial line, yet refuses to follow him, thus incurring hardship.

'Ten years, then she betroths herself; she returns to what is normal' means that after ten years, when the hardship of Difficulty at the Beginning ceases, being able to 'return to what is normal' means returning to the constant Dao, which is the second line going to the Fifth; that is her attaining what is constant.

Formerly there was difficulty, so she could not practice the constant; after ten years the difficulty subsides, and she can return to the constant path to go to the Fifth.

This line uses the image of Six in the second place to illuminate the matter of a woman's marriage, and other human affairs should also take this as a model.

It is like someone pressed closely by a powerful figure: although having an external correlate far away, one dares not advance recklessly, being encroached upon by the nearby force; only after a long time has elapsed can one finally unite with the correlate.

Thus we know all affairs are imaged here, not merely men and women. The images of yin and yang, men and women mentioned across the various lines, are all patterned after this principle.

Six in the second place, line 2, Upper-Middle: The affair is delayed while the mind is hurried, turning back and forth repeatedly. Wait until the cold of the year arrives: when the flowers fade, the fruit ripens.