Hexagram 29 of the I Ching: Kan, The Abysmal (坎), meaning and lines
Kan, The Abysmal: Water doubled, flowing from abyss to abyss. An image of dangerous passages crossed with sincerity and constancy.
Key points
| Number | 29 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Kan (坎) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “kahn” |
| Lower trigram | ☵ Kan, Water |
| Upper trigram | ☵ Kan, Water |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yin, yang, yin, yin, yang, yin |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 30, Li, The Clinging, Fire |
| Other names | The Abyss, The Chasm, Water, The Repeated Pit |
Hexagram 29 at a glance
Kan (坎, full name 習坎, “repeated Kan”) is the 29th hexagram of the I Ching. The character denotes a pit, a hole into which one falls. It is one of the eight hexagrams formed from two identical trigrams: water doubles, hence the translations “The Abysmal”, “The Abyss” or “The Chasm”.
The figure places a solid line at the heart of each trigram, surrounded by broken lines: an inner firmness between two empty zones. It is the image of water that passes from pit to pit without losing its nature.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, called inner or lower, is Kan (Water); the upper one, called outer or upper, is Kan (Water). The bottom stands for the base of the situation, the top for its context or outcome. Water upon Water: a river that arrives again and again. The commentary on the image draws from this the value of repetition: cultivate a constant conduct and repeat the teaching.
Line diagram, from the first to the sixth: yin, yang, yin, yin, yang, yin. In King Wen’s sequence, this hexagram pairs with No. 30, Li, The Clinging, Fire. Its opposite (all lines reversed) is No. 30, Li, The Clinging, Fire, and it remains the same when read from top to bottom. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 27, Yi (Nourishing), The Corners of the Mouth.
The judgment, in brief
The judgment says: sincerity. The heart remains open, the way leads to its goal, and the action deserves respect. Loyalty is the compass of dangerous situations.
The book does not deny the danger; it describes how to get through it: by staying true to yourself, like water that follows the terrain without ever ceasing to flow.
General meaning
Kan speaks of difficult passages: losing one’s footing, feeling surrounded, stringing together obstacles. Water is the example of what adapts: it fills the hollows, then carries on. Strength lies in the firm interior (the solid lines) surrounded by unease.
This is not a hexagram of fate. It shows what saves: sincerity, simplicity, patience, and the possibility of asking for help at the right moment.
The six lines, one by one
Lines are counted from bottom to top. These very short paraphrases do not replace reading a full translation.
| Line | Image and idea |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin) | Pit upon pit: one falls into the hole of the abyss; an unfavourable omen. |
| 2 (yang) | Danger at the heart of the abyss: one seeks only small gains, which is the wisest course. |
| 3 (yin) | Pit after pit, deep danger: one must undertake nothing. |
| 4 (yin) | A jug of wine and two plain earthenware bowls, passed through the window: simplicity soothes; no fault in the end. |
| 5 (yang) | The water does not yet overflow, it only levels itself out: one advances without excess. |
| 6 (yin) | Bound with ropes and thrown among brambles for three years: an image of confinement with no immediate way out; an unfavourable omen. |
Changing lines and the resulting hexagram
A changing line (a total of 6 or 9 when the three coins are cast) turns into its opposite and gives a second hexagram, the resulting hexagram, which describes the direction the situation is taking. Here, lines 2 and 5 are yang and lines 1, 3, 4 and 6 are yin. In Kan, the solid lines 2 and 5 sit at the centre of each trigram: they stand for inner firmness. The broken lines around them are the hollows of the water.
| If the changing line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin becomes yang) | No. 60, Jie, Limitation |
| 2 (yang becomes yin) | No. 8, Bi, Holding Together |
| 3 (yin becomes yang) | No. 48, Jing, The Well |
| 4 (yin becomes yang) | No. 47, Kun (Oppression), Oppression |
| 5 (yang becomes yin) | No. 7, Shi, The Army |
| 6 (yin becomes yang) | No. 59, Huan, Dispersion |
Six changing lines give the opposite, No. 30, Li, The Clinging, Fire. With several changing lines, the schools differ on which one to give priority.
A modern reading, with caution
Kan can accompany a period of worry or of repeated obstacles. It suggests simplifying, staying sincere and not fleeing forward. If the “abyss” is a deep discouragement, speak to a doctor or a psychologist; in France, if you have thoughts of suicide, the 3114 (national suicide prevention helpline) answers at any hour; in an emergency, call 112 (the emergency number across the European Union).
- At work: move forward step by step, avoid risky gambles, stay transparent.
- In relationships: simply say what you are going through, without staging it.
- For yourself: focus on the essentials, let others help you, and do not stay alone with a load that is too heavy.
Reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, a tool for reflection and not a prediction; it does not replace medical, financial, legal or safety advice.
Questions to reflect on
- What is my “abyss” at the moment, and what sustains me from within?
- How can I simplify what I am facing?
- Have I asked for help, or am I going round and round alone in the pit?
- Which small step seems realistic to me today?
Mistakes to avoid
- Trying at any cost to “get out” through a risky show of force.
- Reading the top line as a prediction of captivity: it is an image.
- Staying alone when the text itself values mutual help and simplicity.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 29 of the I Ching mean?
Kan, The Abysmal or The Abyss, is water doubled: it describes dangerous passages and recommends sincerity, simplicity and constancy.
Why is it called “repeated Kan”?
Because its two trigrams are identical; the full ancient name stresses this repetition.
Is Kan an unfavourable omen?
It evokes danger but teaches how to get through it. The book predicts nothing and is read as a tool for reflection.
Which hexagram is paired with Kan?
No. 30, Li, Fire, by reversing all the lines.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.