第六十卦 · 60Hexagram 60节 · JIÉJIÉ

水泽节Jié · Restricting

坎上 · 兑下Water over Lake

卦辞The Judgement

节：亨；苦节不可，贞。Jié. Prosperous and smooth. Not appropriate to be steadfast in bitter restriction.

需要节制、有度、立规矩。兑泽在下属金居西方，坎水在上属水居北方——泽上有水，泽的容量有限，水太多了就漫出去。金生水，泽（金）生出了水，但水太多了反而淹了泽——这就是为什么要有节制。无论是消费、感情、工作——都要有节奏、有边界。但节制不能过头——苦节（过度的克制）反而是凶。要的是恰到好处。

There must be restraint, limits, rules. The lower trigram Duì is Lake, element Metal, in the west; the upper trigram Kǎn is Water, element Water, in the north — water above the lake, and the lake's capacity is limited; too much water and it overflows. Metal generates Water: the lake (Metal) gives rise to the water, but too much water drowns the lake instead — and this is why there must be restraint. Whether in spending, in feelings, or in work — all of it needs measure and edges. But restraint must not be carried too far — bitter restraint (over-suppression) is itself misfortune. The aim is just right, not too much.

大象The Image

《象》曰：泽上有水，节；君子以制数度，议德行。Water stands above the lake: the image of Limitation. The noble one, accordingly, sets up measures and standards and weighs virtue and conduct.

六爻The Six Lines

初九Initial Nine

初九，不出户庭，无咎。Not going out of the inner courtyard. No fault.

不出门户——兑泽初爻，水刚汇——能识别什么时候该动、什么时候不该动的人，安全，没问题。能识别什么时候该动、什么时候不该动的人，安全。

Not stepping out of the door — Duì's Lake, first line, the water just gathered — one who can tell when to move and when to stay is safe — no fault. The one who can tell when to move and when to stay is safe.

九二Second Nine

九二，不出门庭，凶。Not going out of the outer courtyard. Misfortune.

该出门的时候不出去——兑泽居中，水满了却不流——凶，该行动而不行动，错失时机，凶。该行动而不行动，错失时机。节制不是不动。

Not going out when one should — Duì's Lake centered, the water full but not flowing — to fail to act when action is due is the cost of a missed moment — misfortune. To fail to act when action is called for is the cost of missing the moment. Restriction is not refusal to move.

六三Third Six

六三，不节若，则嗟若，无咎。Without restraint, then laments and sighs. No one else is to blame.

不知节制就嗟叹——兑泽到三爻，水快漫了——但只要知道反思，就没事，但只要知道反思，就没事。后悔是改正的开始。

Sighing in regret over having had no restraint — Duì's Lake at the third line, the water near overflowing — but reflect, and there is no blame — but as soon as one reflects, no one else is to blame. Regret is the start of correction.

六四Fourth Six

六四，安节，亨。Restraint at ease. Prosperous and smooth.

安适的节制——坎水初爻，水刚被拦住——亨，节制不是痛苦的，找到舒服的节奏才能持久，亨。节制不是痛苦的——找到舒服的节奏才能持久。

Easy, comfortable restraint — Kǎn's Water, first line, the water just checked — restraint is not pain; finding a comfortable rhythm is how it lasts — prosperity. Restraint is not pain — finding a comfortable rhythm is how it lasts.

九五Fifth Nine

九五，甘节，吉，往有尚。Sweet restraint. Good fortune. Going forward: esteem.

甘甜的节制——坎水居中，水质最清——吉，前进有奖励，节制本身能带来快乐，吉，前进有奖励。节制本身能带来快乐——这是真正的高级。

Sweet restraint — Kǎn's Water centered, the water at its purest — good fortune, reward in going forward, restraint that itself brings joy — good fortune, going forward there is reward. Restraint that itself brings joy — this is the highest grade.

上六Top Six

上六，苦节；贞凶，悔亡。Bitter restraint. Steadfastness: misfortune. Regret vanishes.

苦涩的节制——坎水到极处，水太满了——守正凶，但悔意消失，痛苦的克制不能长久，守正凶，但悔意消失。痛苦的克制不能长久，但有总比无好。需要找到更好的方式。

Bitter restraint — Kǎn's Water at its extreme, the water overfull — holding to it is misfortune, yet the regret may dissolve; a painful clampdown cannot last — holding to it is misfortune, but the regret may yet dissolve. A painful clampdown cannot last; better to find another way — but a little remorse is still better than none.