Browse the 64 Hexagrams
Discover all 64 hexagrams that comprise the I Ching's wisdom system. Each pattern offers unique insights into the nature of change and transformation.
☰The 64 Hexagrams
Each hexagram is composed of six lines that can be either yin (broken) or yang (solid), creating 64 unique combinations that represent different states of change and transformation.
The hexagrams are traditionally numbered 1-64, with each having its own name, meaning, and interpretation. They serve as mirrors reflecting both universal principles and specific situations.
Click on any hexagram below to explore its detailed meaning, including its judgment and line interpretations from the Legges translation.
These 64 archetypes represent the fundamental patterns of change in the universe, from the most concrete situations to the most subtle states of consciousness.
1. Khien / The Creative
Khien represents what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and firm.
2. Khwan / The Receptive
Khwan represents what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and having the firmness of a mare. When the superior man has to make any movement, if he take the initiative, he will go astray; if he follow, he will find his proper lord. The advantageousness will be seen in his getting friends in the south-west, and losing friends in the north-east. If he rest in correctness and firmness, there will be good fortune.
3. Kun / Difficulty at the Beginning
Kun indicates that there will be great progress and success, and the advantage will come from being correct and firm. But any movement in advance should not be lightly undertaken. There will be advantage in appointing feudal princes.
4. Mang / Youthful Folly
Mang indicates that there will be progress and success. I do not go and seek the youthful and inexperienced, but he comes and seeks me. When he shows the sincerity that marks the first recourse to divination, I instruct him. If he apply a second and third time, that is troublesome; and I do not instruct the troublesome. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
5. Hsu / Waiting
Hsu intimates that, with the sincerity which is declared in it, there will be brilliant success. With firmness there will be good fortune; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
6. Sung / Conflict
Sung intimates how, though there is sincerity in one's contention, he will yet meet with opposition and obstruction; but if he cherish an apprehensive caution, there will be good fortune, while, if he must prosecute the contention to the bitter end, there will be evil. It will be advantageous to see the great man; it will not be advantageous to cross the great stream.
7. Sze / The Army
Sze indicates how, in the case which it supposes, with firmness and correctness, and a leader of age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error.
8. Pi / Holding Together
Pi indicates that under the conditions which it supposes there is good fortune. But let the principal party intended in it re-examine himself, as if by divination, whether his virtue be great, unintermitting, and firm. If it be so, there will be no error. Those who have not rest will then come to him; and with those who are too late in coming it will be ill.
9. Hsiao Khu / The Taming Power of the Small
Hsiao Khu indicates that under its conditions there will be progress and success. We see dense clouds, but no rain coming from our borders in the west.
10. Lu / Treading
Li suggests the idea of one treading on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.
11. Thai / Peace
In Thai we see the little gone and the great come. It indicates that there will be good fortune, with progress and success.
12. Phi / Standstill
In Phi there is the want of good understanding between the different classes of men, and its indication is unfavorable to the firm and correct course of the superior man. We see in it the great gone and the little come.
13. Thung Zan / Fellowship with Men
Thung Zan or 'Union of men' appears here as we find it in the remote districts of the country, indicating progress and success. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream. It will be advantageous to maintain the firm correctness of the superior man.
14. Ta Yu / Possession in Great Measure
Ta Yu indicates that, under the circumstances which it implies, there will be great progress and success.
15. Khien / Modesty
Khien indicates progress and success. The superior man, being humble as it implies, will have a good issue to his undertakings.
16. Yu / Enthusiasm
Yu indicates that, in the state which it implies, feudal princes may be set up, and the hosts put in motion, with advantage.
17. Sui / Following
Sui indicates that under its conditions there will be great progress and success. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. There will then be no error.
18. Ku / Work on What Has Been Spoiled
Ku indicates great progress and success to him who deals properly with the condition represented by it. There will be advantage in efforts like that of crossing the great stream. He should weigh well, however, the events of three days before the turning point, and those to be done three days after it.
19. Lin / Approach
Lin indicates that under the conditions supposed in it there will be great progress and success, while it will be advantageous to be firmly correct. In the eighth month there will be evil.
20. Kwan / Contemplation
Kwan shows how he whom it represents should be like the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not yet presented his offerings; with sincerity and an appearance of dignity commanding reverent regard.
21. Shih Ho / Biting Through
Shih Ho indicates successful progress in the condition of things which it supposes. It will be advantageous to use legal constraints.
22. Pi / Grace
Pi indicates that there should be free course in what it denotes. There will be little advantage however if it be allowed to advance and take the lead.
23. Po / Splitting Apart
Po indicates that in the state which it symbolizes it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.
24. Fu / Return
Fu indicates that there will be free course and progress in what it denotes. The subject of it finds no one to distress him in his exits and entrances; friends come to him, and no error is committed. He will return and repeat his proper course. In seven days comes his return. There will be advantage in whatever direction movement is made.
25. Wu Wang / Innocence
Wu Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If its subject and his action be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.
26. Ta Khu / The Taming Power of the Great
Under the conditions of Ta Khu it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. If its subject do not seek to enjoy his revenues in his own family without taking service at court, there will be good fortune. It will be advantageous for him to cross the great stream.
27. I / The Corners of the Mouth
I indicates that with firm correctness there will be good fortune in what is denoted by it. We must look at what we are seeking to nourish, and by the exercise of our thoughts seek for the proper aliment.
28. Thun / Preponderance of the Great
Thun indicates successful progress in its circumstances. To a small extent it will still be advantageous to be firm and correct.
29. Khan / The Abysmal
Khan, here repeated, shows the possession of sincerity, through which the mind is penetrating. Action in accordance with this will be of high value.
30. Li / The Clinging
Li indicates that, in regard to what it denotes, it will be advantageous to be firm and correct, and that thus there will be free course and success. Let its subject also nourish a docility like that of the cow, and there will be good fortune.
31. Hsien / Influence
Hsien indicates that, on the fulfillment of the conditions implied in it, there will be free course and success. Its advantageousness will depend on the being firm and correct, as in marrying a young lady. There will be good fortune.
32. Hang / Duration
Hang indicates successful progress and no error in what it denotes. But the advantage will come from being firm and correct; and movement in any direction whatever will be advantageous.
33. Thun / Retreat
Thun indicates successful progress in its circumstances. To a small extent it will still be advantageous to be firm and correct.
34. Ta Kwang / The Power of the Great
Ta Kwang indicates that under the conditions which it symbolizes it will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
35. Chin / Progress
In Chin we see a prince who secures the tranquillity of the people presented on that account with numerous horses by the king, and three times in a day received at interviews.
36. Ming I / Darkening of the Light
Ming I indicates that in the circumstances which it denotes it will be advantageous to realize the difficulty of the position, and maintain firm correctness.
37. Kia Zan / The Family
For the realization of what is taught in Kia Zan, or for the regulation of the family, what is most advantageous is that the wife be firm and correct.
38. Khwei / Opposition
Khwei indicates that, notwithstanding the condition of things which it denotes, in small matters there will still be good success.
39. Kien / Obstruction
In the state indicated by Kien advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous also to meet with the great man. In these circumstances, with firmness and correctness, there will be good fortune.
40. Kieh / Deliverance
In the state indicated by Kieh advantage will be found in the south-west. If no further operations be called for, there will be good fortune in coming back to the old conditions. If some operations be called for, there will be good fortune in the early conducting of them.
41. Sun / Decrease
In what is denoted by Sun, if there be sincerity in him who employs it, there will be great good fortune: freedom from error; firmness and correctness that can be maintained; and advantage in every movement that shall be made. In what shall this sincerity in the exercise of Sun be employed? Even in sacrifice two baskets of grain, though there be nothing else, may be presented.
42. Yi / Increase
Yi indicates that in the state which it denotes there will be advantage in every movement which shall be undertaken, that it will be advantageous even to cross the great stream.
43. Kwai / Break-through
Kwai requires in him who would fulfil its meaning the exhibition of the culprit's guilt in the royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal for sympathy and support, with a consciousness of the peril involved in cutting off the criminal. He should also make announcement in his own city, and show that it will not be well to have recourse at once to arms. In this way there will be advantage in whatever he shall go forward to.
44. Kau / Coming to Meet
Kau shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry such a female.
45. Tsui / Gathering Together
In the state denoted by Tsui, the king will repair to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous also to meet with the great man; and then there will be progress and success, though the advantage must come through firm correctness. The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous.
46. Shang / Pushing Upward
Shang indicates that under its conditions there will be great progress and success. Seeking by the qualities implied in it to meet with the great man, its subject need have no anxiety. Advance to the south will be fortunate.
47. Khwan / Oppression
In the condition denoted by Khwan there may yet be progress and success. For the firm and correct, the really great man, there will be good fortune. He will fall into no error. If he make speeches, his words cannot be made good.
48. Ching / The Well
Looking at Ching, we think of how the site of a town may be changed, while the fashion of its wells undergoes no change. The water of a well never disappears and never receives any great increase, and those who come and those who go can draw and enjoy the benefit. If the drawing have nearly been accomplished, but, before the rope has quite reached the water, the bucket is broken, this is evil.
49. Ko / Revolution
What takes place as indicated by Ko is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. In that case occasion for repentance will disappear.
50. Ting / The Caldron
Ting gives the intimation of great progress and success.
51. Kan / The Arousing
Kan gives the intimation of ease and development. When the time of movement which it indicates comes, the subject of the hexagram will be found looking out with apprehension, and yet smiling and talking cheerfully. When the movement like a crash of thunder terrifies all within a hundred li, he will be like the sincere worshipper who is not startled into letting go his ladle and cup of sacrificial spirits.
52. Ken / Keeping Still
When one's resting is like that of the back, and he loses all consciousness of self; when he walks in his courtyard, and does not see any of the persons in it, there will be no error.
53. Kien / Development
Kien suggests to us the marriage of a young lady, and the good fortune attending it. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
54. Kwei Mei / The Marrying Maiden
Kwei Mei indicates that under the conditions which it denotes action will be evil, and in no wise advantageous.
55. Fang / Abundance
Fang intimates progress and development. When a king has reached the point which the name denotes there is no occasion to be anxious through fear of a change. Let him be as the sun at noon.
56. Lu / The Wanderer
Lu intimates that in the condition which it denotes there may be some little attainment and progress. If the stranger or traveler be firm and correct as he ought to be, there will be good fortune.
57. Sun / The Gentle
Sun intimates that under the conditions which it denotes there will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement onward in whatever direction. It will be advantageous also to see the great man.
58. Tui / The Joyous
Tui intimates that under its conditions there will be progress and attainment. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
59. Hwan / Dispersion
Hwan intimates that under its conditions there will be progress and success. The king goes to his ancestral temple; and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream. It will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
60. Kieh / Limitation
Kieh intimates that under its conditions there will be progress and attainment. But if the regulations which it prescribes be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent.
61. Kung Fu / Inner Truth
Kung Fu moves even pigs and fish, and leads to good fortune. There will be advantage in crossing the great stream. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
62. Hsiao Kwo / Preponderance of the Small
Hsiao Kwo indicates that in the circumstances which it implies there will be progress and attainment. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. What the name denotes may be done in small affairs, but not in great affairs. It is like the notes that come down from a bird on the wing; to descend is better than to ascend. There will in this way be great good fortune.
63. Ki Chi / After Completion
Ki Chi intimates progress and success in small matters. There will be advantage in being firm and correct. There has been good fortune in the beginning; there may be disorder in the end.
64. Wei Chi / Before Completion
Wei Chi intimates progress and success in the circumstances which it implies. We see a young fox that has nearly crossed the stream, when its tail gets immersed. There will be no advantage in any way.