Read the I Ching
The 64 hexagrams
The whole Book of Changes, hexagram by hexagram: the Judgment, the Commentary, the Image and all six lines in the original Chinese, with James Legge's classic translation beside them — and a short plain-language note on what each hexagram pictures. Click any hexagram.
In King Wen order
- 1乾Heavenqián · The Creative · strength, initiative, creative power
- 2坤Earthkūn · The Receptive · receptivity, devotion, support
- 3屯Sproutingzhūn · Difficulty at the Beginning · difficult beginnings, sprouting, perseverance
- 4蒙Immaturityméng · Youthful Folly · inexperience, learning, guidance
- 5需Attendingxū · Waiting · waiting, nourishment, patience
- 6訟Disputesòng · Conflict · conflict, dispute, caution
- 7師Troopsshī · The Army · discipline, leadership, collective effort
- 8比Alliancebǐ · Holding Together · alliance, closeness, belonging
- 9小畜Small Accumulationxiǎo chù · The Taming Power of the Small · small restraint, accumulation, gentle check
- 10履Steppinglǚ · Treading · conduct, treading carefully, propriety
- 11泰Prosperitytài · Peace · peace, harmony, prosperity
- 12否Blockagepǐ · Standstill · stagnation, blockage, standstill
- 13同人People Unitedtóng rén · Fellowship with Men · fellowship, community, shared purpose
- 14大有Great Holdingsdà yǒu · Possession in Great Measure · great possession, abundance, responsibility
- 15謙Humilityqiān · Modesty · humility, modesty, balance
- 16豫Delightyù · Enthusiasm · enthusiasm, readiness, delight
- 17隨Following Alongsuí · Following · following, adapting, flexibility
- 18蠱Corruptiongǔ · Work on What Has Been Spoiled · decay, repair, setting right
- 19臨Overseeinglín · Approach · approach, oversight, growing influence
- 20觀Observationguān · Contemplation · contemplation, observation, example
- 21噬嗑Biting Togethershì kè · Biting Through · biting through, decisive action, justice
- 22賁Adornmentbì · Grace · adornment, grace, form
- 23剝Peeling Awaybō · Splitting Apart · splitting apart, decline, stripping away
- 24復Returningfù · Return · return, renewal, turning point
- 25无妄Without Falsehoodwú wàng · Innocence · innocence, sincerity, the unexpected
- 26大畜Great Accumulationdà chù · The Taming Power of the Great · great accumulation, restraint, stored power
- 27頤Jaws / Nourishmentyí · The Corners of the Mouth · nourishment, what you take in, speech
- 28大過Great Excessdà guò · Preponderance of the Great · great excess, critical mass, extraordinary times
- 29坎The Pit (Water)kǎn · The Abysmal · danger, the abyss, steadfastness
- 30離Brightness (Fire)lí · The Clinging · clarity, brightness, attachment
- 31咸Sensingxián · Influence · influence, attraction, mutual response
- 32恆Constancyhéng · Duration · duration, constancy, endurance
- 33遯Withdrawaldùn · Retreat · retreat, withdrawal, strategic distance
- 34大壯Great Vigordà zhuàng · The Power of the Great · great power, vigour, restraint
- 35晉Advancingjìn · Progress · progress, advancement, recognition
- 36明夷Brightness Hiddenmíng yí · Darkening of the Light · darkening of the light, adversity, hidden strength
- 37家人Householdjiā rén · The Family · family, household, roles
- 38睽Divergencekuí · Opposition · opposition, estrangement, difference
- 39蹇Impassejiǎn · Obstruction · obstruction, impasse, turning inward
- 40解Releasexiè · Deliverance · release, deliverance, relief
- 41損Diminishingsǔn · Decrease · decrease, sacrifice, simplification
- 42益Augmentingyì · Increase · increase, benefit, generosity
- 43夬Decisivenessguài · Break-through · resolution, breakthrough, exposing
- 44姤Encountergòu · Coming to Meet · encounter, temptation, unexpected arrival
- 45萃Assemblycuì · Gathering Together · gathering, assembly, community
- 46升Ascendingshēng · Pushing Upward · ascending, growth, steady rise
- 47困Confinementkùn · Oppression · exhaustion, confinement, adversity
- 48井Welljǐng · The Well · the well, the source, dependable nourishment
- 49革Reformgé · Revolution · revolution, reform, molting
- 50鼎Cauldrondǐng · The Caldron · the cauldron, nourishing the worthy, transformation
- 51震Shock (Thunder)zhèn · The Arousing · shock, thunder, awakening
- 52艮Stillness (Mountain)gèn · Keeping Still · stillness, stopping, meditation
- 53漸Gradual Advancejiàn · Development · gradual progress, development, orderly advance
- 54歸妹Marrying the Younger Sisterguī mèi · The Marrying Maiden · the marrying maiden, unequal terms, subordinate role
- 55豐Plentyfēng · Abundance · abundance, the peak, fullness
- 56旅Travelinglǚ · The Wanderer · the traveller, impermanence, caution abroad
- 57巽Yielding (Wind)xùn · The Gentle · gentle penetration, wind, influence
- 58兌Pleasure (Lake)duì · The Joyous · joy, openness, pleasing communication
- 59渙Dispersinghuàn · Dispersion · dispersion, dissolution, reunion
- 60節Measurejié · Limitation · limitation, measure, moderation
- 61中孚Inner Sincerityzhōng fú · Inner Truth · inner truth, sincerity, trust
- 62小過Small Excessxiǎo guò · Preponderance of the Small · small excess, attention to detail, modest action
- 63既濟Already Crossedjì jì · After Completion · completion, order achieved, vigilance
- 64未濟Not Yet Crossedwèi jì · Before Completion · before completion, transition, the unfinished
By trigrams
Rows: upper trigram · Columns: lower trigram