巽Xun.The Gentle.
Wind follows Wind: influence enters through repetition, responsiveness and consistent direction. Xun concerns gentle penetration—the quiet power by which messages become action, habits become culture and small movements reach places force cannot.
Influence through repeated, precise entry.
Xun means Wind, Wood, penetration and responsive adaptation. Wind does not defeat an obstacle in one collision; it enters openings, returns and gradually changes the entire atmosphere.
The doubled trigram emphasises implementation. An instruction must be clarified, repeated and embodied in action. Modest progress accumulates when adaptability remains aligned with a firm centre.
Wind above. Wind below.
One yielding line enters beneath two firm lines. Repeated twice, the pattern joins receptivity with direction: responsive enough to enter, structured enough to continue.
Small influence succeeds by entering the right channel.
The governing proposition
巽：小亨，利攸往，利見大人。
The Gentle: small success. It is beneficial to have somewhere to go and beneficial to see the great person.
Repeated instruction carries intention
重巽以申命，剛巽乎中正而志行。柔皆順乎剛，是以小亨，利有攸往，利見大人。
Double Wind reiterates the command. Strength enters the central and correct position so intention can be carried out; the yielding responds to the firm.
Repeat the order and perform the work
隨風，巽；君子以申命行事。
Winds following one another: The Gentle. The cultivated person reiterates instructions and carries out affairs.
Six degrees of penetration and influence.
Advance and retreatThe warrior’s constancy is beneficial · Changes to 9 小畜
初六：進退，利武人之貞。
Responsiveness has become indecision. Establish a firm direction so adaptation serves action rather than anxiety.
小象傳 · 進退，志疑也。利武人之貞，志治也. Advance and retreat show doubt; disciplined firmness orders the intention.
Penetrate beneath the bedUse many investigators; good fortune and no blame · Changes to 53 漸
九二：巽在床下，用史巫紛若，吉，無咎。
Search beneath appearances for the hidden cause. Multiple methods are justified when inquiry remains centred and sincere.
小象傳 · 紛若之吉，得中也. The good fortune amid many inquiries comes from holding the centre.
Repeated penetrationRegret · Changes to 59 渙
九三：頻巽，吝。
Constant repositioning exhausts credibility and will. Repetition without settled purpose is not influence; it is drift.
小象傳 · 頻巽之吝，志窮也. Regret from repeated submission reveals exhausted intention.
Regret disappearsThe hunt captures three kinds of game · Changes to 44 姤
六四：悔亡，田獲三品。
Responsive execution produces results at several levels. Skillful entry turns access into concrete value.
小象傳 · 田獲三品，有功也. The threefold catch signifies real achievement.
A poor beginning, a good endingPrepare before change and review afterward · Changes to 18 蠱
九五：貞吉悔亡，無不利。無初有終，先庚三日，後庚三日，吉。
Correct implementation can redeem a flawed start. Announce, prepare, execute and then review the change from a central position.
小象傳 · 九五之吉，位正中也. Good fortune comes from a correct and central position.
Penetration beneath the bedLose the resources and axe; constancy brings misfortune · Changes to 48 井
上九：巽在床下，喪其資斧，貞凶。
Endless accommodation has surrendered the capacity to decide. Influence fails when the instrument of execution is lost.
小象傳 · 巽在床下，上窮也。喪其資斧，正乎凶也. Penetration has reached exhaustion; without decisive tools, even attempted correctness ends badly.
Let communication enter the system and become behaviour.
Work and leadership
Repeat priorities through decisions, incentives and routines. A message has not penetrated until the organisation behaves differently.
Relationships
Influence through consistency and attentive listening, while keeping boundaries strong enough that accommodation does not erase the self.
Timing and decisions
Use small, persistent moves where direct force would provoke resistance. Prepare changes before implementation and review them afterward.
Xun is aligned when flexibility carries a coherent intention into action.
Aligned expression
- The message is consistent.
- Inquiry reaches hidden causes.
- Adaptation preserves direction.
- Implementation includes preparation and review.
Distorted expression
- Responsiveness becomes hesitation.
- Repetition replaces decision.
- Accommodation surrenders authority.
- Communication never becomes behaviour.