䷳ Keeping Still gèn
Core Meaning
The Gen hexagram reveals the wisdom of knowing when to stop. Only by knowing when to stop can one achieve stability, and only with stability can one find peace. The Gen hexagram emphasizes: stop when it is time to stop, 'stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move'; stop at your back, 'Keeping Still at his back,' suppressing desires before they arise; guard your position, 'do not let your thoughts go beyond your situation,' not overstepping your bounds; stop gradually, from feet to back, from bottom to top; act and be still at the right time, 'acting and being still at the right time,' seizing the opportunity; stop magnanimously, 'Magnanimous Keeping Still,' self-control through virtue. Modern society has too many temptations. The Gen hexagram tells us: we must know how to stop, not every opportunity needs to be seized; we must abide by our duties, 'do not let our thoughts go beyond our situation,' everyone in their place; we must suppress desires, 'Keeping Still at his back,' controlling them at the source; we must seize the timing, 'stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move,' acting and being still at the appropriate time. True wisdom lies in knowing when to stop: knowing when to stop, knowing what not to do, and knowing one's boundaries.
The Judgment
Keeping Still at his back, he does not perceive his person. He walks in his courtyard and does not see anyone. There will be no error.
Interpretation:
Keeping Still at his back, he does not perceive his person. He walks in his courtyard and does not see anyone. There will be no error.
The Image
Mountains piled one upon another: the image of Keeping Still. Thus the superior person acts without letting his thoughts go beyond his situation.
Structure
The hexagram Gen (Keeping Still) consists of Gen (Mountain) above and Gen (Mountain) below. Gen is mountain, and two mountains stacked together form the image of 'Gen for Mountain'. A mountain is still and unmoving; this is the characteristic of 'Gen'. Gen means to stop, to cease, to be still. With Gen above and below, mountains piled upon mountains, it represents the extreme of stillness. The essence of Gen lies in knowing when to stop: 'Stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move.' Stop in your place: 'Do not let your thoughts go beyond your situation.' Stop at your back: 'Keeping Still at his back, he does not perceive his person,' suppressing desires before they arise. Act and be still at the appropriate time: 'Acting and being still at the right time, its way is bright.' The Gen hexagram is one of the eight pure hexagrams, symbolizing the youngest son and representing stopping, quietness, and boundaries. Gen is opposite to Zhen (Arousing); Zhen is movement, Gen is stillness. The Gen hexagram emphasizes: know when to stop, guard your position, suppress desires, and seize the timing of action and stillness.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial six: Keeping Still at his toes. No error. It is advantageous to persevere in stillness.
Six in the second place: Keeping Still at his calves. He cannot rescue his follower. His heart is not pleased.
Nine in the third place: Keeping Still at his waist. He rends his spine. This is dangerous and burns the heart.
Six in the fourth place: Keeping Still at his body. No error.
Six in the fifth place: Keeping Still at his jaw. His words have order. Regrets vanish.
Top nine: Magnanimous Keeping Still. Good fortune.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
In career, one must know when to stop at the right time. 'Stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move'; the key is seizing the opportunity. Initial six: 'Keeping Still at his toes' is best. Knowing when to stop right at the beginning means 'no error,' and 'it is advantageous to persevere in stillness' for the long term. Six in the second place: 'Keeping Still at his calves' means stopping at the lower leg. 'He cannot rescue his follower' means being stopped from moving forward. 'His heart is not pleased' means feeling unhappy but safe. Nine in the third place: 'Keeping Still at his waist' is the most painful stop. 'He rends his spine' means tearing muscles. 'Dangerous and burns the heart' means danger burning the heart. Forcibly breaking boundaries inevitably leads to pain. Six in the fourth place: 'Keeping Still at his body' means stopping at oneself. 'No error' means being able to restrain oneself without fault, 'self-restraint.' Six in the fifth place: 'Keeping Still at his jaw' means stopping at the mouth. 'His words have order' means speaking with moderation. 'Regrets vanish.' Top nine: 'Magnanimous Keeping Still' is the best, restraining oneself with magnanimous virtue, 'ending with magnanimity.' Remember: you must guard your position, suppress desires, and seize the timing.
❤️ Relationships
In relationships, one must know boundaries and appropriate limits. 'Keeping Still at his back, he does not perceive his person' means maintaining distance is wisdom. Initial six: 'Keeping Still at his toes' means knowing when to stop at the very beginning, 'it is advantageous to persevere in stillness' to hold the bottom line. Six in the second place: 'Keeping Still at his calves' means being restricted. 'His heart is not pleased,' although unhappy, must accept it. Nine in the third place: 'Keeping Still at his waist' is most dangerous. Breaking boundaries, 'he rends his spine, dangerous and burns the heart,' leads to pain and danger; do not do what you shouldn't. Six in the fourth place: 'Keeping Still at his body' means self-restraint, 'no error.' Six in the fifth place: 'Keeping Still at his jaw' means speaking with moderation, 'his words have order; regrets vanish.' Top nine: 'Magnanimous Keeping Still' is best, restraining oneself with magnanimous virtue. Remember: relationships must have boundaries, 'do not let your thoughts go beyond your situation,' do not cross the line, 'Keeping Still at his back' maintain appropriate distance. Do not, like nine in the third place, break boundaries and cause yourself pain. 'Stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move,' stop when it's time to stop, move when it's time to move.
🎯 Decision Making
Decisions must seize the timing of action and stillness. 'Stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move; acting and being still at the right time, its way is bright'; the key is timing. One must 'keep still where one should keep still,' stopping where one should stop. Initial six: 'Keeping Still at his toes' means stopping at the very beginning, 'not having lost the correct path.' Six in the second place: 'Keeping Still at his calves' means being restrained, which must be accepted. Nine in the third place: 'Keeping Still at his waist' is most undesirable; forcibly breaking boundaries is 'danger burning the heart.' Six in the fourth place: 'Keeping Still at his body' means self-restraint, 'self-discipline.' Six in the fifth place: 'Keeping Still at his jaw' means stopping at the mouth, 'by the way of centrality and correctness.' Top nine: 'Magnanimous Keeping Still' is best, 'ending with magnanimity.' The key is 'do not let your thoughts go beyond your situation,' do not overstep your bounds, do not be greedy. Remember: only by knowing when to stop can one achieve stability, and only by guarding one's position can one be safe.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest warning of the Gen hexagram is overstepping boundaries due to not knowing when to stop. Nine in the third place: 'Keeping Still at his waist; he rends his spine; dangerous and burns the heart' is most perilous, forcibly breaking boundaries tears muscles and brings danger burning the heart. Beware of: not knowing when to stop, overstepping one's bounds, inability to suppress desires, forcibly breaking boundaries, and inappropriate action or stillness. Remember: Gen means 'stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move,' seizing the timing; 'do not let your thoughts go beyond your situation,' guarding one's duties; 'Keeping Still at his back,' suppressing desires at the source; 'stop where one should keep still,' stopping where one should stop. Six in the second place: 'His heart is not pleased' warns that even if being restrained makes one uncomfortable, one must accept the limitation. True wisdom is knowing when to stop: knowing where the boundaries are, knowing when to stop, and knowing one's place. 'Acting and being still at the right time, its way is bright'; only by acting and being still at the right time can one be straightforward and bright. Top nine: 'Magnanimous Keeping Still' is the highest state, restraining oneself with magnanimous virtue.
Applicable Scenarios
The Keeping Still hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
Fan Li's successful retreat is a model of the Gen hexagram. Fan Li assisted King Goujian of Yue in destroying Wu and restoring his state, achieving great success and fame. He 'stopped when it is time to stop,' knowing it was time to cease. He wrote a letter to Wen Zhong: 'When all the birds are gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning hare is killed, the hound is cooked.' He 'did not let his thoughts go beyond his situation,' not clinging to power. He 'kept still at his back,' suppressing the desire for power at its source, and retreated after achieving success. He was not like nine in the third place, who 'kept still at his waist,' forcibly breaking boundaries and inviting danger. He reached the state of top nine, 'Magnanimous Keeping Still,' restraining himself with magnanimous virtue, 'ending with magnanimity.' Wen Zhong did not understand the way of the Gen hexagram, did not know when to stop, and eventually, 'he rends his spine, dangerous and burns the heart,' was killed by Goujian. This is precisely the wisdom of the Gen hexagram: 'Stop when it is time to stop, move when it is time to move,' stop when it's time to stop; 'acting and being still at the right time, its way is bright,' seize the opportunity; 'do not let your thoughts go beyond your situation,' stick to one's duties; 'Keeping Still at his back,' suppress desires at the source. Those who know when to stop are wise; those who are content are rich.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Keeping Still hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: