Hexagram 53

JIÀN

The waterwheel

Gradualness for a woman's marriage - auspicious
Harvest: determination

The great image says:
On the mountain is wind: Gradualness
The noble one stays in dignity and virtue and improves the common people

Wind/wood
Mountain

day 21 of a yin moon

   The waterwheel makes sure that the field will not dry out. The slow and constant supply of water makes the plants grow harmoniously, without stagnations, abundant.
     The wild goose can only reach its far-away destination, and come back every year, by beating its wings second after second, never losing its strength or direction. 
     Every relation needs a constant supply of water, of feelings, regular love, day after day.
     Starting something is usually not the most difficult part; it is harder to keep it going. Every day caring for it, feeding, repairing: every creation has to be kept alive day after day, year after year.

More about 53 and 54
Waterwheel ±1700 (Mustard seed garden manual of painting)

JIAN: The middle part of the character (1) is a cart or wheel, but the old character (2 or 3) looks more like a waterwheel. In old times common people had no carts, but they did have waterwheels. Without the wheel the character means cut through, chop off (4). The middle + right part is interesting: it is the deepened line of a woodcut: a trench or groove. Like the channels for the water from the waterwheel. 
JIAN: gradually; by degrees, dip/soak in liquid.

 

9 at 3: The wild geese gradually approach the highlands. The husband goes out and does not return. The woman gets pregnant but does not raise the child. Pitfall. Harvest: defense against robbers.
Others can do lots of things you don't like. Don't attack them for it, just keep out of your soul what you don't want in there, from out your own conscience, in your own power. Love which demands perfection is no love, neither is love which accepts everything. 
(Changes to hex.20)

 

 Above 9: The wild geese gradually approach the highlands. Their feathers can be used for performing the ceremonies. Auspicious. 
The spirit becomes rich by never letting the waterwheel stop, supplying the soul with slaking waters every living day. Only day by day one develops pureness, innocence, modesty. The moment the waterwheel stops, they are gone. 
(Changes to hex.39)

6 at 2: The wild geese gradually approach the huge rock. Eat and drink full of joy. Auspicious. 
It's the small things together that make a relation strong and lasting. When meals are moments of peace and togetherness, when expressions talk of joy and love, when voices sound harmonious, then the relation will last a lifetime. Not words are important, but the feelings they bear.
(Changes to hex.57)

 

 9 at 5: The wild geese gradually approach the hill. The woman for three years does not get pregnant, (but) nothing can stop completion. Auspicious.
What is part of your being or your aims will always reveal itself, and it will have more effect if it realizes itself day by day than by pouring out everything at one go.
(Changes to hex.52)

Initial 6 : The wild geese gradually approach the riverbank. The young ones are in danger. There is talk. Without fault.  
 Follow your intuition, your inner hunches. They will not give solutions, but they guide every step. You find your right future by a step and another step and on and on.
 (Changes to hex.37)

 

 6 at 4: The wild geese gradually approach the tree. Maybe they find a rafter. Without fault.
Connect yourself to the values of your life, not to its facts. Then you will irresistibly change it when it does not answer to your ideals. You pick up every small chance for improvement, you leave every detail which is deteriorating. 
(Changes to hex.33)
The Sabian Symbols for the hexagram-lines
6 at 3 corresponds to c 21: A girl's basketball team.
 Just a bunch of girls, but when they get to know each other, cooperation emerges.

 Above 6 corresponds to i  21: A little white lamb, a child and a Chinese servant.
 All days white, all days child, all days devoted. 
6 at 2 corresponds to a 21: A primadonna singing
 'Donna' is the voice, 'prima' is the heart		 9 at 5 corresponds to g 21: A relay race.
Initial 9 corresponds to _ 21: A finger pointing in an open book.

6 at 4 corresponds to e 21: A soldier derelict in duty.

 
For the meaning of  Eminent - expansion. Harvest - determination click HERE