---
title: 艮為山 — Keeping Still (Hexagram 52)
lang: en
canonical: https://ekidan.ai/library/52
alternates:
  - ja: https://ekidan.ai/ja/library/52
  - zh-Hant: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/52
  - zh-TW: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/52
  - zh-HK: https://ekidan.ai/zh/library/52
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.
---

# 艮為山 · Keeping Still — Hexagram 52

Hexagram 52 of the I Ching is 艮為山 (Keeping Still). Keeping Still — the mountain. Stop where one should stop. Stillness at the back; no fault. Advance or halt — read the timing.

## Work / Relationships / Health

- **Work**: Best to hold position or pause; do not launch.
- **Relationships**: No progress; do not force.
- **Health**: Back, joints; ease activity.

## Structure

- Number: 52
- Name: 艮為山
- English: Keeping Still
- Romaji: gon-i-san
- Pinyin: gèn
- Upper: 山 (Mountain)
- Lower: 山 (Mountain)
- Lines (top to bottom):

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

## Questions about this hexagram

### What does hexagram 52 (艮為山) mean?

Keeping Still — the mountain. Stop where one should stop. Stillness at the back; no fault.

### What does 艮為山 counsel?

Advance or halt — read the timing.

### What does 艮為山 say about work?

Best to hold position or pause; do not launch.

### What does 艮為山 say about relationships?

No progress; do not force.

### What does 艮為山 say about health?

Back, joints; ease activity.

### Which trigrams make up hexagram 52?

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


Source: [Takashima Ekidan AI — ekidan.ai](https://ekidan.ai/library/52)