Hexagram 57: The Gentle (Wind) (巽 Xùn) — I Ching Guide

Q: What is I Ching Hexagram 57 (巽 The Gentle (Wind))?

I Ching Hexagram 57, 巽 (Xùn), represents The Gentle (Wind). It is formed by Wind (巽 Xùn) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below. The core teaching of this hexagram is captured in its Judgment: 'The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great man....'

Q: What does the Image of Hexagram 57 mean?

The Image states: 'Winds following one upon the other: the image of the Gently Penetrating. Thus the superior man spreads his commands abroad and carries out his undertakings.' This teaches that the superior person responds to the hexagram's situation by cultivating the corresponding inner quality.

Q: How do the six lines of Hexagram 57 develop its meaning?

The six lines trace a progression through the hexagram's situation. Starting from the bottom (Line 1) through Line 6, each position reveals a different aspect of how The Gentle (Wind) manifests — from initial stirrings to the final outcome. Key lines include the ruler of the hexagram and the culminating line.

Q: What is the relationship between Hexagram 57 and other hexagrams?

Hexagram 57 (The Gentle (Wind)) follows Hexagram 56 in the traditional King Wen sequence, forming a meaningful progression. Its nuclear hexagram and opposite/complementary hexagram provide additional dimensions of meaning.

Oriens

巽

Xùn — Hexagram 57

The Gentle (Wind)

Wind (巽 Xùn) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below

Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens

Summary

I Ching Hexagram 57, 巽 (Xùn), represents The Gentle (Wind). Formed by Wind (巽 Xùn) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below, this hexagram teaches about the gentle (wind). The core message: The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great man..

Key Takeaways

Hexagram 57 is formed by Wind (巽 Xùn) above, Wind (巽 Xùn) below, combining two of the eight trigrams into a unique archetypal situation
The Judgment reveals the hexagram's core teaching through a concise, oracular statement
The six lines trace a progression from initial conditions through to the culmination and outcome
The Image connects the natural symbolism of the trigrams to the conduct of the superior person
This hexagram's wisdom applies to modern situations involving

The Judgment

The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great man.

— I Ching, The Gentle (Wind)

The Image

Winds following one upon the other: the image of the Gently Penetrating. Thus the superior man spreads his commands abroad and carries out his undertakings.

— I Ching, Image

The Six Lines

Line 1: Line 1: In advancing and in retreating, the perseverance of a warrior furthers.\nLine 2: Penetration under the bed. Priests and magicians are used in great number. Good fortune. No blame.\nLine 3: Repeated penetration. Humiliation.\nLine 4: Remorse disappears. During the hunt, three kinds of game are caught.\nLine 5: Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. Nothing that does not further. No beginning, but an end. Before the change, three days. After the change, three days. Good fortune.\nLine 6: Penetration under the bed. He loses his property and his ax. Perseverance brings misfortune.

Modern Application

Hexagram 57 is the hexagram of gentle, persistent influence — doubled Wind, the invisible force that shapes landscapes through steady pressure over time. Unlike Thunder's sudden shock (Hexagram 51), Wind achieves its effects gradually, penetrating where force cannot enter. The hexagram teaches the power of subtlety, persuasion, and influence exercised without confrontation. 'Success through what is small' means modest, consistent actions achieve more than dramatic gestures. The doubled Wind also suggests communication — spreading commands, carrying out initiatives. In modern life, Hexagram 57 applies to diplomacy, teaching, therapy, negotiation, and any situation where changing minds requires gentleness rather than force.

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