Hexagram 52

Keeping Still Mountain

艮为山 · 艮 · Gèn | Mountain over Mountain

Mountain doubled; be still at the right moment and rest the mind.

StillnessRestMeditationRestraint

Upper trigram

艮 · Mountain

Lower trigram

艮 · Mountain

The Judgment

“Keeping the back still so that the body is no longer felt. Walking in the courtyard without seeing the people. No blame.”

The Lines

Six at the beginningKeeping the toes still. No blame. Lasting perseverance furthers.

Six in the second placeKeeping the calves still. He cannot rescue the one he follows; his heart is not glad.

Nine in the third placeKeeping the loins still, rigid all up the spine. Danger; the heart is choked with distress.

Six in the fourth placeKeeping the trunk still. No blame.

Six in the fifth placeKeeping the jaws still, so that words are measured. Regret vanishes.

Nine at the topWholehearted stillness. Good fortune.

Line texts are an original modern translation of the classical Zhou Yi (public domain).

Meaning

Mountain upon mountain—stillness and rest. There is a time to stop as surely as a time to act; in stillness the mind grows clear.

Guidance

Know when to halt and be still; quiet the restless mind and act only when movement is right.

When This Hexagram Appears

Pausing, meditating, or holding back—letting stillness restore clarity before the next move.

FAQ about Hexagram 52

What does Hexagram 52, Keeping Still Mountain, mean?

Keeping Still Mountain (艮为山, hexagram 52 of the I Ching). Mountain upon mountain—stillness and rest. There is a time to stop as surely as a time to act; in stillness the mind grows clear.

What is the Judgment of the Keeping Still Mountain hexagram?

The Judgment reads: “Keeping the back still so that the body is no longer felt. Walking in the courtyard without seeing the people. No blame.” Mountain doubled; be still at the right moment and rest the mind.

What guidance does Hexagram 52 offer?

Know when to halt and be still; quiet the restless mind and act only when movement is right.

When does the Keeping Still Mountain hexagram apply?

Pausing, meditating, or holding back—letting stillness restore clarity before the next move.

Related Hexagrams

Opposite Hexagram

No. 58 · The Joyous Lake

Every line changed to its opposite — the mirror situation.

Reversed Hexagram

No. 51 · The Arousing Thunder

The same figure turned upside down — the view from the other side.