I Ching

Hexagrams

A full guide to the 64 I Ching hexagrams: situation, advice, caution, reflection questions, and transitions between states.

1 ·

The Creative

Strong beginning needs form, or energy scatters as sparks.

initiativeheavenstarting power

2 ·

The Receptive

Earth does not push the seed, but gives it place, nourishment, and quiet.

earthreceptivityform

3 ·

Difficulty at the Beginning

A sprout breaks soil not because the path is easy, but because time has come.

sproutstartup chaosfirst knot

4 ·

Youthful Folly

Not knowing is no shame. It is dangerous to demand answers while refusing to learn.

learningquestionmentor

5 ·

Waiting

Waiting is not emptiness if you prepare the vessel for rain.

timingnourishmentrain

6 ·

Conflict

Conflict asks you to separate principle from pride and fact from noise.

conflictargumentboundary

11 ·

Peace

Peace arrives when above and below begin exchanging, not commanding.

harmonyflowopening

12 ·

Standstill

Standstill shows exchange between levels is broken: words do not arrive, efforts are not received.

closureblocked exchangepause

24 ·

Return

Return begins quietly: one line of light comes back from below.

returnsmall lightcycle

29 ·

The Abyss

The Abyss teaches crossing danger not by heroism, but skill and sobriety.

dangerdepthrepetition

36 · 明夷

Darkening of the Light

Sometimes wisdom is not shining brighter, but preserving fire until safe time.

hide the lightcautionsurvival

39 ·

Obstruction

An obstacle is not always an enemy; sometimes it shows where another route is needed.

obstacledetourhelp

40 ·

Deliverance

Deliverance comes when the knot can be untied, not hacked apart.

releasethunder after rainuntying knot

48 ·

The Well

The Well is a resource that nourishes many if not polluted or forgotten.

sourcenourishmentshared resource

52 ·

Keeping Still

The mountain does not rush to answer. It shows where movement must stop to see form.

mountainstillnesslimit of motion

55 ·

Abundance

Abundance is peak light, where it matters not only to receive, but not to go blind.

fullnesspeakgreat light

59 ·

Dispersion

Dispersion melts ice, but asks not to lose form together with tension.

dissolvingrelease of tensionunbinding

64 · 未濟

Before Completion

Before completion, the most dangerous thing is deciding everything is already done.

almost readylast bridgeverification

7 ·

The Army

Hexagram The Army shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

disciplinetransitionmeasure

8 ·

Holding Together

Hexagram Holding Together shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

uniontransitionmeasure

9 · 小畜

Small Taming

Hexagram Small Taming shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

small restrainttransitionmeasure

10 ·

Treading

Hexagram Treading shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

careful steptransitionmeasure

13 · 同人

Fellowship

Hexagram Fellowship shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

fellowshiptransitionmeasure

14 · 大有

Great Possession

Hexagram Great Possession shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

abundancetransitionmeasure

15 ·

Modesty

Hexagram Modesty shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

modestytransitionmeasure

16 ·

Enthusiasm

Hexagram Enthusiasm shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

enthusiasmtransitionmeasure

17 ·

Following

Hexagram Following shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

followingtransitionmeasure

18 ·

Work on the Decayed

Hexagram Work on the Decayed shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

repairtransitionmeasure

19 ·

Approach

Hexagram Approach shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

approachtransitionmeasure

20 ·

Contemplation

Hexagram Contemplation shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

viewtransitionmeasure

21 · 噬嗑

Biting Through

Hexagram Biting Through shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

decisive cuttransitionmeasure

22 ·

Grace

Hexagram Grace shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

gracetransitionmeasure

23 ·

Splitting Apart

Hexagram Splitting Apart shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

stripping awaytransitionmeasure

25 · 無妄

Innocence

Hexagram Innocence shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

innocencetransitionmeasure

26 · 大畜

Great Taming

Hexagram Great Taming shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

great restrainttransitionmeasure

27 ·

Nourishment

Hexagram Nourishment shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

nourishmenttransitionmeasure

28 · 大過

Great Excess

Hexagram Great Excess shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

overloadtransitionmeasure

30 ·

The Clinging

Hexagram The Clinging shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

claritytransitionmeasure

31 ·

Influence

Hexagram Influence shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

influencetransitionmeasure

32 ·

Duration

Hexagram Duration shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

durationtransitionmeasure

33 ·

Retreat

Hexagram Retreat shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

retreattransitionmeasure

34 · 大壯

Great Power

Hexagram Great Power shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

great powertransitionmeasure

35 ·

Progress

Hexagram Progress shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

progresstransitionmeasure

37 · 家人

The Family

Hexagram The Family shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

familytransitionmeasure

38 ·

Opposition

Hexagram Opposition shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

oppositiontransitionmeasure

41 ·

Decrease

Hexagram Decrease shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

decreasetransitionmeasure

42 ·

Increase

Hexagram Increase shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

increasetransitionmeasure

43 ·

Breakthrough

Hexagram Breakthrough shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

breakthroughtransitionmeasure

44 ·

Coming to Meet

Hexagram Coming to Meet shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

encountertransitionmeasure

45 ·

Gathering Together

Hexagram Gathering Together shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

gatheringtransitionmeasure

46 ·

Pushing Upward

Hexagram Pushing Upward shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

ascenttransitionmeasure

47 ·

Oppression

Hexagram Oppression shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

exhaustiontransitionmeasure

49 ·

Revolution

Hexagram Revolution shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

revolutiontransitionmeasure

50 ·

The Cauldron

Hexagram The Cauldron shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

transformationtransitionmeasure

51 ·

Shock

Hexagram Shock shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

shocktransitionmeasure

53 ·

Development

Hexagram Development shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

gradual developmenttransitionmeasure

54 · 歸妹

Marrying Maiden

Hexagram Marrying Maiden shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

uneven uniontransitionmeasure

56 ·

The Wanderer

Hexagram The Wanderer shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

wanderingtransitionmeasure

57 ·

The Gentle

Hexagram The Gentle shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

gentle influencetransitionmeasure

58 ·

The Joyous

Hexagram The Joyous shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

joytransitionmeasure

60 ·

Limitation

Hexagram Limitation shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

limitationtransitionmeasure

61 · 中孚

Inner Truth

Hexagram Inner Truth shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

inner truthtransitionmeasure

62 · 小過

Small Excess

Hexagram Small Excess shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

small excesstransitionmeasure

63 · 既濟

After Completion

Hexagram After Completion shows where the situation asks not for fear-based guessing, but for the exact rhythm of change.

completiontransitionmeasure