---
title: 水山蹇 — Obstruction (Hexagram 39)
lang: en
canonical: https://ekidan.ai/library/39
alternates:
  - ja: https://ekidan.ai/ja/library/39
  - zh-Hant: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/39
  - zh-TW: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/39
  - zh-HK: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/39
source: 高島易断 (Takashima Ekidan), public-domain 1893 English and 1901 Chinese editions
provider: ekidan.ai — AI-assisted I Ching reading grounded in 88 source-verified historical Takashima cases
license: Classical source text is public domain. This structured edition and its modern commentary are © ICHING LLC, ekidan.ai. Attribution requested when quoted.
---

# 水山蹇 · Obstruction — Hexagram 39

Hexagram 39 of the I Ching is 水山蹇 (Obstruction). Obstruction — water ahead and mountain behind; hard to advance. The southwest furthers; the northeast does not. Seek a great person. Do not push alone; seek the wise.

## Work / Relationships / Health

- **Work**: Obstacles — adjust the plan.
- **Relationships**: Progress is hard; consult a third party.
- **Health**: Feet, lower back, cold.

## Structure

- Number: 39
- Name: 水山蹇
- English: Obstruction
- Romaji: sui-san-ken
- Pinyin: jiǎn
- Upper: 水 (Water)
- Lower: 山 (Mountain)
- Lines (top to bottom):

```text
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
▬▬▬   ▬▬▬
```

## Questions about this hexagram

### What does hexagram 39 (水山蹇) mean?

Obstruction — water ahead and mountain behind; hard to advance. The southwest furthers; the northeast does not. Seek a great person.

### What does 水山蹇 counsel?

Do not push alone; seek the wise.

### What does 水山蹇 say about work?

Obstacles — adjust the plan.

### What does 水山蹇 say about relationships?

Progress is hard; consult a third party.

### What does 水山蹇 say about health?

Feet, lower back, cold.

### Which trigrams make up hexagram 39?

Upper trigram 水 (Water) over lower trigram 山 (Mountain).


Source: [Takashima Ekidan AI — ekidan.ai](https://ekidan.ai/library/39)