This is Gua 57 ䷸ in the Yi Jing, titled “Submission.” It is composed of ☴ Xùn Wind above ☴ Xùn Wind.

This is the ☴ Xùn trigram in the Yi Jing, associated here with Wind.

巽

xùn

Penetrating influence; wind; south-east; yielding adaptation.

Meaning

Natural/Directional: Wind (as an agent of diffusion); wood (representing flexibility and vertical growth); the south-east.
Dynamic: To enter, penetrate, or insinuate; to diffuse, spread, or circulate; the transmission of influence through a medium.
Behavioral: Yielding, modesty, or compliance; hesitation characterized as a tactical pause for calibration or subtle adjustment.

Grammar and usage

Noun: The wind; the south-east direction; trigram ☴.
Verb: To penetrate quietly; to adapt to an environment; to permeate.
Modifier: Mild, modest, yielding, or compliant.

Distinctions

Contrast with terms denoting frontal force or sudden rupture (e.g., 震 //zhèn//). While those imply a strike, 巽 implies an entry and the process of permeation.

Translator notes

Adaptation vs. Obedience: The gloss "obedient" may suggest passive submission. In classical contexts, this yielding is often strategic—a method of aligning with an existing system to move through it more effectively. Consider whether the context implies passive compliance, active adaptation (insinuating), or fluid transmission (diffusing).

Concrete Anchors: In specific passages, the term's logic may manifest as:

Linearity/Extension: Cords, straightening lines, height, or length.
Atmospherics: Scent or invisible currents.
Anatomy/Craft: The thigh; subtle adjustments in skilled craftsmanship.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the term means in a particular passage.