CHIEN is the 53rd of 64 hexagrams in the I Ching, The Book of Changes. It is composed of the trigrams 'Sun' (wood, wind, gentle, penetration) over 'Ken' (mountain, arresting progress).
The symbol of a mountain and above it that of a tree form Chien. The superior person, in accordance with this, attains to and maintains their extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.
Chien suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune attending it. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
The advance indicated by Chien is the marrying of a young lady which is attended by good fortune. The lines as they advance get into their correct places: this indicates the achievements of a successful progress. The advance is made according to correctness: the subject of the hexagram might rectify the country. In the attributes of restfulness and flexible penetration we have the assurance of an onward movement that is inexhaustible.
-- I Ching, edited by Raymond Van Over, based on the translation by James Legge, New American Library, 1971.
The symbol of a mountain and above it that of a tree form Chien. The superior person, in accordance with this, attains to and maintains their extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.
Chien suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune attending it. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
The advance indicated by Chien is the marrying of a young lady which is attended by good fortune. The lines as they advance get into their correct places: this indicates the achievements of a successful progress. The advance is made according to correctness: the subject of the hexagram might rectify the country. In the attributes of restfulness and flexible penetration we have the assurance of an onward movement that is inexhaustible.
-- I Ching, edited by Raymond Van Over, based on the translation by James Legge, New American Library, 1971.