The Book of Changes

The 64 I Ching hexagrams

Six lines, 64 patterns. Find a hexagram by its King Wen number, read its image, and explore what changes when a line moves.

Names vary between translations. These pages pair common English names with pinyin, Chinese names and the actual six-line figures. Reflections are original modern writing.

The Creative

Qian · Heaven above Heaven

Give the idea a beginning ↗

The Receptive

Kun · Earth above Earth

Make room for what matters ↗

Difficulty at the Beginning

Zhun · Clouds gathering above Thunder

Untangle the first knot ↗

Youthful Folly

Meng · A spring beneath a Mountain

Ask the question beneath the question ↗

Waiting

Xu · Clouds above Heaven

Prepare while conditions gather ↗

Conflict

Song · Heaven and Water moving apart

Find the actual disagreement ↗

The Army

Shi · Water held within Earth

Turn effort into coordination ↗

Holding Together

Bi · Water resting on Earth

Choose connections that can hold ↗

Small Taming

Xiao Xu · Wind passing over Heaven

Let small efforts accumulate ↗

Treading

Lü · Heaven above the Lake

Notice where you are stepping ↗

Peace

Tai · Earth and Heaven in exchange

Keep the channels open ↗

Standstill

Pi · Heaven and Earth apart

Locate the blocked connection ↗

Fellowship

Tong Ren · Heaven above Fire

Find something worth doing together ↗

Great Possession

Da You · Fire shining above Heaven

Decide what abundance is for ↗

Modesty

Qian · A Mountain within Earth

See your size clearly ↗

Enthusiasm

Yu · Thunder rising from Earth

Give your energy a place to go ↗

Following

Sui · Thunder within the Lake

Follow the feedback that matters ↗

Work on What Has Been Spoiled

Gu · Wind beneath a Mountain

Repair the pattern behind the problem ↗

Approach

Lin · Earth above the Lake

Get closer before you decide ↗

Contemplation

Guan · Wind moving across Earth

Look at the wider scene ↗

Biting Through

Shi He · Fire and Thunder together

Deal with the stubborn obstruction ↗

Grace

Bi · Fire beneath a Mountain

Help the substance come through ↗

Splitting Apart

Bo · A Mountain resting on Earth

Care for the base as things fall away ↗

Return

Fu · Thunder within Earth

Make returning easy ↗

Innocence

Wu Wang · Thunder moving beneath Heaven

Start with what is actually here ↗

The Taming Power of the Great

Da Xu · Heaven held within a Mountain

Store what you are learning ↗

Nourishment

Yi · Thunder beneath a Mountain

Notice what you take in ↗

Great Preponderance

Da Guo · Lake water rising over Wood

Move some of the weight ↗

The Abysmal

Kan · Water following Water

Find the next secure foothold ↗

The Clinging Fire

Li · Fire renewing Fire

Check what lights your view ↗

Influence

Xian · A Lake above a Mountain

Notice the response between you ↗

Duration

Heng · Thunder and Wind together

Build a rhythm for ordinary days ↗

Retreat

Dun · Heaven above a Mountain

Take enough distance to choose ↗

Great Power

Da Zhuang · Thunder above Heaven

Use strength with a sense of scale ↗

Progress

Jin · Light rising above Earth

Let a real piece of progress show ↗

Darkening of the Light

Ming Yi · Light entering Earth

Protect a place for your own view ↗

The Family

Jia Ren · Wind emerging from Fire

Make everyday expectations visible ↗

Opposition

Kui · Fire above the Lake

Give the difference a clear shape ↗

Obstruction

Jian · Water above a Mountain

Survey another route ↗

Deliverance

Xie · Thunder and rain arise together

Tie up one loose end ↗

Decrease

Sun · The Lake beneath a Mountain

Take one thing off the pile ↗

Increase

Yi · Wind and Thunder assisting each other

Put support where it can help ↗

Breakthrough

Guai · The Lake above Heaven

Give the decision a clear edge ↗

Coming to Meet

Gou · Wind beneath Heaven

Meet the unexpected with curiosity ↗

Gathering Together

Cui · The Lake gathering above Earth

Give the gathering a center ↗

Pushing Upward

Sheng · Wood growing within Earth

Build the next step upward ↗

Oppression

Kun · A Lake with its Water drained away

Protect what is essential ↗

The Well

Jing · Water above Wood

Care for a dependable source ↗

Revolution

Ge · Fire within the Lake

Give change a reason and a trial ↗

The Cauldron

Ding · Fire above Wood

Make something from what you have ↗

The Arousing Thunder

Zhen · Thunder following Thunder

Steady yourself before responding ↗

Keeping Still

Gen · Mountain resting against Mountain

Choose a place to stop ↗

Development

Jian · A Tree growing on a Mountain

Let change take root in stages ↗

The Marrying Maiden

Gui Mei · Thunder above the Lake

Check the role you are stepping into ↗

Abundance

Feng · Thunder and Lightning arriving together

Keep your bearings in a full moment ↗

The Wanderer

Lü · Fire on a Mountain

Travel lightly in unfamiliar ground ↗

The Gentle Wind

Xun · Wind following Wind

Make a small influence consistent ↗

The Joyous Lake

Dui · Lake joined with Lake

Let conversation have some room to play ↗

Dispersion

Huan · Wind moving over Water

Find the thread worth gathering ↗

Limitation

Jie · Water held above the Lake

Choose a boundary that fits ↗

Inner Truth

Zhong Fu · Wind moving above the Lake

Bring your words and actions together ↗

Small Preponderance

Xiao Guo · Thunder above a Mountain

Make the small adjustment well ↗

After Completion

Ji Ji · Water above Fire

Finish the handoff as well as the work ↗

Before Completion

Wei Ji · Fire above Water

Leave a good place to continue ↗

New to the I Ching?

Start with the three-coin method, or learn how changing lines create a relating hexagram. You can also cast a free reading and keep a private browser journal.