qiánAlso known as “The Creative” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Khien” (Legge)
strengthinitiativecreative power
In plain words
Pure yang, six unbroken lines: heaven in ceaseless motion. Creative force and leadership, pictured as a dragon rising stage by stage — hidden, in the field, flying, and finally overreaching.
The attitude it asks for
Act with integrity and persistence, but know which stage you are at: a hidden dragon waits, a flying dragon leads, an arrogant one regrets.
Structure
Upper trigram☰乾Qian (the Creative)天 · heaven · Metal
Lower trigram☰乾Qian (the Creative)天 · heaven · Metal
Vast is the 'great and originating (power)' indicated by Khien! All things owe to it their beginning:—it contains all the meaning belonging to (the name) heaven.
The clouds move and the rain is distributed; the various things appear in their developed forms.
(The sages) grandly understand (the connexion between) the end and the beginning, and how (the indications of) the six lines (in the hexagram) are accomplished, (each) in its season. (Accordingly) they mount (the carriage) drawn by those six dragons at the proper times, and drive through the sky.
The method of Khien is to change and transform, so that everything obtains its correct nature as appointed (by the mind of Heaven); and (thereafter the conditions of) great harmony are preserved in union. The result is 'what is advantageous, and correct and firm.'
(The sage) appears aloft, high above all things, and the myriad states all enjoy repose.
The Image
天行健，君子以自強不息。
Heaven, in its motion, (gives the idea of) strength. The superior man, in accordance with this, nerves himself to ceaseless activity.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
亢龍有悔。
In the sixth (or topmost) line, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon exceeding the proper limits. There will be occasion for repentance.
Its symbolism
亢龍有悔，盈不可久也。
'The dragon exceeds the proper limits;—there will be occasion for repentance:'—a state of fulness, that is, should not be indulged in long.
In the third line, undivided, (we see its subject as) the superior man active and vigilant all the day, and in the evening still careful and apprehensive. (The position is) dangerous, but there will be no mistake.
Its symbolism
終日乾乾，反復道也。
'Active and vigilant all the day:'—(this refers to) the treading of the (proper) path over and over again.
(The lines of this hexagram are all strong and undivided, as appears from) the use of the number nine. If the host of dragons (thus) appearing were to divest themselves of their heads, there would be good fortune.
Its symbolism
用九，天德不可為首也。
'The same undivided line is used' (in all the places of this hexagram), but the attribute of heaven (thereby denoted) should not (always) take the foremost place.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 1, Heaven, mean?
Pure yang, six unbroken lines: heaven in ceaseless motion. Creative force and leadership, pictured as a dragon rising stage by stage — hidden, in the field, flying, and finally overreaching.
Which trigrams form Heaven?
乾 above 乾 — heaven over heaven. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 乾 Heaven.
What happens when a line of Heaven changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Heaven in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — — — — — — is Heaven. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.