困 · Kùn — Fortitude in the Crucible
King Wen Sequence #47 (困 Kùn — Fortitude in the Crucible) embodies water draining beneath a dry lakebed basin. Assigned to the Dui Lake Palace (兑宫八卦 · Metal Joy) · 一世卦 (World Line 1 / Response Line 4) and resonant with Autumn Equinox Joyous Metal (秋分兑金 · 白露—霜降), its six-line binary vector (010110) pairs 坎 Kan (Abysmal Depth) at the root with 兑 Dui (Joyous Expression) at the crown.
《大象》：澤无水，困；君子以致命遂志。 ｜ 《彖传》：困，剛掩也。險以說，困而不失其所，亨；其唯君子乎？貞大人吉，以剛中也。有言不信，尚口乃窮也。
Visual Archetype: deep well shaft reaching bedrock aquifer. When Lake (Metal) interacts with Water (Water), the primary strategic mandate centers on turning resource scarcity into unbreakable inner resolve. Its Polarity Opposite (Cuo Gua · 错卦) is #22 贲 (Aesthetic Adornment), its Overturned Inverse (Zong Gua · 综卦) is #48 井 (The Inexhaustible Wellspring), and its Nuclear Core (Hu Gua · 互卦) reveals #37 家人 (Harmonious Household Order).
兑宫 · 世爻第1爻 / 应爻第4爻
For decision-makers consulting 困 (Kùn) regarding turning resource scarcity into unbreakable inner resolve, the hexagram highlights the interplay between Water foundation and Metal manifestation under the Metal Palace. Rather than generic haste, align execution with Autumn Equinox Joyous Metal (秋分兑金 · 白露—霜降) rhythms and inspect whether your natal BaZi chart favors Metal, Metal, or Water as its Favorable Element (喜用神).
《京氏易传》世应法：初六元士為世，九四諸侯在應(京氏易傳原文:元士居世1爻,應爻隔三爻)
Six Lines Progression (六爻爻辞 · Bottom Line 1 to Top Line 6)
困 (Kùn) Line 1 [初六 · 戊寅 (木) · 妻财 (木) · 世爻 World]: Germination of water draining beneath a dry lakebed basin near deep well shaft reaching bedrock aquifer; validate root premises before accelerating turning resource scarcity into unbreakable inner resolve. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #58 兑 (Joyful Shared Discourse).
《周易本义》：臀物之底也困于株木傷而不能安也初六以隂柔處困之底居暗之甚故其象占如此
困 (Kùn) Line 2 [九二 · 戊辰 (土) · 父母 (土)]: Central lower-trigram seat anchored in deep well shaft reaching bedrock aquifer; cultivate Water craftsmanship in harmony with #37 家人. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #45 萃 (Converging Talent & Capital).
《周易本义》：紱音弗亨讀作享○困于酒食厭飫苦惱之意酒食人之所欲然醉飽過宜則是反為所困矣朱紱方来上應之也九二有剛中之徳以處困時雖无凶害而反困于得其所欲之多故其象如此而其占利以享祀若征行則非其時故凶而於義為无咎也
困 (Kùn) Line 3 [六三 · 戊午 (火) · 官鬼 (火)]: Threshold between 坎 Kan and 兑 Dui during Autumn Equinox Joyous Metal (秋分兑金 · 白露—霜降); pace turning resource scarcity into unbreakable inner resolve carefully. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #28 大过 (Extraordinary Burden).
《周易本义》：陰柔而不中正故有此象而其占則凶石指四蒺蔾指二宫謂三而妻則六也其義則繫辭備矣
困 (Kùn) Line 4 [九四 · 丁亥 (水) · 子孙 (水) · 应爻 Response]: Ministerial counsel within the Dui Lake Palace (兑宫八卦 · Metal Joy) · 一世卦; align water draining beneath a dry lakebed basin with institutional mentors. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #29 坎 (Navigating the Deep Gorge).
《周易本义》：初六九四之正應九四處位不當不能濟物而初六方困于下又為九二所隔故其象如此然邪不勝正故其占雖為可吝而必有終也金車為九二象未詳疑坎有輪象也
困 (Kùn) Line 5 [九五 · 丁酉 (金) · 兄弟 (金)]: Fulcrum of Fortitude in the Crucible (䷮); command turning resource scarcity into unbreakable inner resolve through balanced Metal and Water synthesis. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #40 解 (Spring Thunder Release).
《周易本义》：劓音見睽刖音月説音悦○劓刖者傷於上下上下既傷則赤紱无所用而反為困矣九五當困之時上為陰揜下則乘剛故有此象然剛中而説體故能遲久而有説也占具象中又利用祭祀久當獲福
困 (Kùn) Line 6 [上六 · 丁未 (土) · 父母 (土)]: Culmination of water draining beneath a dry lakebed basin, pivoting toward Inverse #48 井 (The Inexhaustible Wellspring) and Opposite #22 贲. Single-line transformation leads to Zhi Gua #6 讼 (Conflict & Arbitration).
《周易本义》：藟力軌反臲五結反卼五骨反○以陰柔處困極故有困于葛藟于臲卼曰動悔之象然物窮則變故其占曰若能有悔則可以征而吉矣
BaZi & Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数) Connection
Spatial & Elemental Calibration for #47 困: Place a deep well shaft reaching bedrock aquifer motif or Metal-element accent in your workspace; cross-reference Hexagram #22 (贲) when balancing Yin/Yang extremes.
Download Hexagram #47 (困 Kùn) 6 Changing Lines Commentary
Get line-by-line classical Yao Ci (爻辞) interpretations from bottom Line 1 (Initial) to top Line 6 (Culmination).