Reference
The sixty-four hexagrams
Every hexagram is two trigrams stacked: three lines below, three above. Eight trigrams squared give sixty-four. This page lists all of them, with the reading each one carries here.
How the grid works
The lower trigram sits underneath and is read first; theupper trigram sits on top. Each trigram is three lines, counted from the bottom up, and each line is either solid (yang) or broken (yin).
The classical names run the two images together, upper first: 水雷 is water over thunder, 火天 is fire over heaven. Where a hexagram is made of two identical trigrams, it is named after the trigram itself — 坎为水 rather than 水水 — which is why those eight read differently from the rest.
The numbers are the King Wen sequence, the traditional order used for divination. It is not binary order: the sixty-four are arranged in pairs that turn into one another, which is why 3 and 4 sit together and 11 and 12 do.
This site derives the whole table from the eight trigrams rather than transcribing it, and the tests check the derived names against the classical ones for every entry — so a typo in one cell cannot survive a build.
乾qián · Heaven · Sky above · Metal
- 1乾qián · The Creative乾为天Sky over Sky
Pure force, at full strength and still rising.
Act, and keep acting — but watch the moment it turns into arrogance.
initiativeenduranceforce
- 6讼sòng · Conflict天水Sky over Running water
Two sides committed to being right.
Stop at the first compromise you can live with. Winning this costs more than losing it.
disputeprinciplecaution
- 10履lǚ · Treading天泽Sky over Still water
Walking past something dangerous, one careful step at a time.
Mind your manners and your footing. Correctness will protect you.
cautionconductrisk
- 12否pǐ · Standstill天地Sky over Open ground
The connection is broken and nothing gets through.
Withdraw, keep your integrity, and do not force communication.
blockageseparationintegrity
- 13同人tóng rén · Fellowship天火Sky over Flame
People united by a shared aim rather than a shared roof.
Be open about your purpose and let others join it.
fellowshippurposeopenness
- 25无妄wú wàng · Innocence天雷Sky over Thunderclap
Acting without calculation, and without a hidden motive.
Do the straightforward thing. Cleverness here invites trouble.
innocencedirectnesssimplicity
- 33遁dùn · Retreat天山Sky over Stillness
Withdrawing while withdrawal is still dignified.
Leave now, cleanly, and on your own terms.
retreattimingdignity
- 44姤gòu · Coming to Meet天风Sky over Moving air
A sudden, unexpected encounter with something influential.
Meet it, but do not take it home. Small things grow large here.
encountertemptationcaution
兑duì · Lake · Still water above · Metal
- 17随suí · Following泽雷Still water over Thunderclap
Adapting to what is, instead of what you planned.
Follow the better judgement in the room, including someone else s.
adaptationfollowingflexibility
- 28大过dà guò · Great Excess泽风Still water over Moving air
The ridgepole is bending under a weight it was never meant to bear.
Act decisively and unusually. The ordinary remedy is too small.
excessstrainexception
- 31咸xián · Influence泽山Still water over Stillness
Attraction between two things that genuinely fit.
Respond rather than initiate. Let the other side move first.
attractionresponseinfluence
- 43夬guài · Breakthrough泽天Still water over Sky
Pressure that has to be released, carefully.
State the problem plainly, then stop. Do not press the advantage.
breakthroughresolverestraint
- 45萃cuì · Gathering泽地Still water over Open ground
People and resources assembling in one place.
Call the gathering, and prepare for the crowd before it arrives.
gatheringassemblyprovision
- 47困kùn · Exhaustion泽水Still water over Running water
Resources gone, and words that no longer carry.
Say less, hold your position, and wait for the situation itself to change.
exhaustionsilenceendurance
- 49革gé · Revolution泽火Still water over Flame
The old form has to be replaced, not repaired.
Change only when the time is plainly right and the people agree.
revolutiontimingconsent
- 58兑duì · Joy兑为泽Still water over Still water
Pleasure that is shared, and the difficulty of taking it seriously.
Enjoy what is good, and do not sign anything while in a good mood.
joyexchangediscernment
离lí · Fire · Flame above · Fire
- 14大有dà yǒu · Great Possession火天Flame over Sky
Abundance that has to be handled rather than enjoyed.
Share what you have. Hoarding it turns it into a target.
abundanceresponsibilitygenerosity
- 21噬嗑shì kè · Biting Through火雷Flame over Thunderclap
There is a blockage, and it has to be bitten through.
Deal with the obstruction directly. Half measures will not clear it.
obstructiondecisivenessjustice
- 30离lí · The Clinging离为火Flame over Flame
Fire that needs something to burn in order to exist.
Attach to what is worth sustaining, and let it depend on you too.
clarityattachmentdependence
- 35晋jìn · Progress火地Flame over Open ground
Advancing into the light, visibly.
Step forward and let it be seen. Recognition is arriving.
progressrecognitionvisibility
- 38睽kuí · Opposition火泽Flame over Still water
Two things turned in opposite directions, both partly right.
Work on the small shared thing, not the large disagreement.
oppositiondifferencecompromise
- 50鼎dǐng · The Cauldron火风Flame over Moving air
Raw material becoming something that nourishes others.
Cook it properly. Do not rush the transformation.
transformationculturenourishment
- 56旅lǚ · The Wanderer火山Flame over Stillness
Far from home, with no authority and no ground of your own.
Stay small and courteous. Do not make demands.
wanderingmodestytransience
- 64未济wèi jì · Before Completion火水Flame over Running water
Almost there, and therefore at its most dangerous.
Get the last detail right, and do not assume it is finished.
nearlycaretransition
震zhèn · Thunder · Thunderclap above · Wood
- 16豫yù · Enthusiasm雷地Thunderclap over Open ground
Energy that gathers people, ready to be put to use.
Move while people are willing. Enthusiasm does not keep.
enthusiasmreadinessmomentum
- 32恒héng · Duration雷风Thunderclap over Moving air
Continuing in the same direction without drama.
Keep going. Consistency is the entire method here.
durationconsistencycommitment
- 34大壮dà zhuàng · Great Power雷天Thunderclap over Sky
Strength that is genuinely strong — and therefore dangerous.
Use force only where it is plainly right, and do not test it.
powerrestraintrightness
- 40解xiè · Deliverance雷水Thunderclap over Running water
The knot is loosening.
Finish what remains quickly, then leave. Do not linger in the relief.
releasecompletionspeed
- 51震zhèn · Thunder震为雷Thunderclap over Thunderclap
Shock that arrives suddenly and is gone quickly.
Do not panic and do not chase it. Stand steady through the noise.
shockalarmcomposure
- 54归妹guī mèi · The Marrying Maid雷泽Thunderclap over Still water
Advancing into a position you are not yet ready for.
Do not take the larger role yet. The terms are unfavourable.
hastemismatchcaution
- 55丰fēng · Abundance雷火Thunderclap over Flame
Peak fullness, which is always temporary.
Do the important thing now. Fullness does not last.
abundanceintensityurgency
- 62小过xiǎo guò · Small Excess雷山Thunderclap over Stillness
Slightly over the line, and safely so.
Attend to small matters, and let the large ones wait.
modestysmallnesscare
巽xùn · Wind · Moving air above · Wood
- 9小畜xiǎo chù · Small Restraint风天Moving air over Sky
Small forces holding back large ones; clouds but no rain.
Tend to the detail. The large move is not available yet.
restraintdetailaccumulation
- 20观guān · Contemplation风地Moving air over Open ground
Looking out from a high place — and being seen while you look.
Observe, and let yourself be observed. Do not act yet.
observationexampledistance
- 37家人jiā rén · The Family风火Moving air over Flame
The order inside a household, which is the order of everything else.
Put your own house in order before you look outward.
householdrolesorder
- 42益yì · Increase风雷Moving air over Thunderclap
Something is added exactly where it is needed.
Take the gain, and pass some of it on. Move now rather than later.
increasebenefittiming
- 53渐jiàn · Development风山Moving air over Stillness
The slow, step-by-step fitting of things into their place.
Follow the sequence. Skipping one step breaks the whole.
gradualnessorderpatience
- 57巽xùn · The Gentle Wind巽为风Moving air over Moving air
Influence that works by persistence rather than force.
Keep asking, gently and repeatedly. It will enter.
penetrationpersistencegentleness
- 59涣huàn · Dispersion风水Moving air over Running water
What was frozen is breaking up and moving again.
Disperse the blockage, and let people go their own way.
dispersionthawrelease
- 61中孚zhōng fú · Inner Truth风泽Moving air over Still water
Sincerity that reaches even the sceptical.
Say the true thing plainly. Nothing else will work here.
sinceritytrustopenness
坎kǎn · Water · Running water above · Water
- 3屯zhūn · Difficulty at the Beginning水雷Running water over Thunderclap
Everything is in place and nothing moves yet; the sprout is still under the soil.
Ask for help now rather than later. Begin small and accept the confusion.
beginningsconfusionhelp
- 5需xū · Waiting水天Running water over Sky
Rain is coming; the sky is not yet ready to give it.
Prepare, rest and eat well. Do not cross the river yet.
waitingpreparationtrust
- 8比bǐ · Holding Together水地Running water over Open ground
People gathering around someone worth following.
Join now, and be early rather than fashionable.
allianceloyaltybelonging
- 29坎kǎn · The Abyss坎为水Running water over Running water
Water inside water: danger that repeats itself.
Move through it without stopping. Keep your word and your nerve.
dangerdepthpersistence
- 39蹇jiǎn · Obstruction水山Running water over Stillness
Difficulty ahead and behind; the road itself bends.
Turn back, and ask someone who has done this before.
obstructionreturnhelp
- 48井jǐng · The Well水风Running water over Moving air
A source that serves everyone and moves for no one.
Maintain the well. Whoever is thirsty will come.
sourcemaintenancepatience
- 60节jié · Limitation水泽Running water over Still water
A boundary that makes the flow useful.
Set limits that are firm but humane, and accept the limits of others.
limitationmeasurestructure
- 63既济jì jì · After Completion水火Running water over Flame
Everything in its place — which is the beginning of disorder.
Watch what you have stopped checking. Maintain; do not celebrate.
completionvigilanceorder
艮gèn · Mountain · Stillness above · Earth
- 4蒙méng · Youthful Folly山水Stillness over Running water
Not knowing — and not yet knowing that you do not know.
Find a teacher, ask one honest question, and stop guessing.
inexperienceinstructionquestions
- 18蛊gǔ · Repairing the Decay山风Stillness over Moving air
Something has been neglected long enough to rot.
Name the inherited mess and fix it. This is repair, not a new start.
repairneglectinheritance
- 22贲bì · Adornment山火Stillness over Flame
Beauty laid over substance, useful only in small amounts.
Dress the plain thing up, then stop. Do not mistake the lacquer for the wood.
adornmentformgrace
- 23剥bō · Splitting Apart山地Stillness over Open ground
The structure is coming apart from below.
Do not resist it. Let it fall and stay still.
declineletting gostillness
- 26大畜dà chù · Great Restraint山天Stillness over Sky
Enormous force, deliberately held in storage.
Store your strength; it is not for release yet. Study, save, train.
restraintreservepreparation
- 27颐yí · Nourishment山雷Stillness over Thunderclap
What enters the mouth, literally and otherwise.
Look at what you are feeding, and who you are feeding. Choose carefully.
nourishmentcareintake
- 41损sǔn · Decrease山泽Stillness over Still water
Giving something up in order to gain something else.
Cut what is genuinely expendable. Do it sincerely, and once.
decreasesacrificesimplification
- 52艮gèn · Keeping Still艮为山Stillness over Stillness
Two mountains: movement stops entirely.
Stop completely. Rest is the action required.
stillnessrestboundary
坤kūn · Earth · Open ground above · Earth
- 2坤kūn · The Receptive坤为地Open ground over Open ground
Pure yielding — strength that comes from carrying rather than leading.
Follow, support and finish what someone else started. Do not compete.
receptivitypatiencesupport
- 7师shī · The Army地水Open ground over Running water
Discipline, a chain of command, and one clear purpose.
Organise properly or do not begin. Pick one leader and hold the line.
disciplineorganisationorder
- 11泰tài · Peace地天Open ground over Sky
Heaven and earth in contact; things flow.
Use the opening now. This is the best of it, and it is not permanent.
harmonyflowopening
- 15谦qiān · Modesty地山Open ground over Stillness
The one hexagram where every line comes out favourable.
Lower yourself deliberately. It costs nothing and carries everything.
modestyhumilitybalance
- 19临lín · Approach地泽Open ground over Still water
Someone or something favourable is drawing near.
Be available. This improves for a short while, then peaks.
approachopportunityavailability
- 24复fù · Return地雷Open ground over Thunderclap
The first line turning back, just after the darkest point.
Begin again quietly. The turn is real, but it is very small.
returnrenewalsmallness
- 36明夷míng yí · Darkening of the Light地火Open ground over Flame
The light is forced to hide itself.
Keep your ability invisible and your opinion private for now.
concealmentendurancediscretion
- 46升shēng · Pushing Upward地风Open ground over Moving air
Growth that is gradual and meets no resistance.
Keep climbing by small steps, and see the right people on the way.
ascentgradualnessfavour
A hexagram on this page is a reference entry. To get one for a question you are actually asking, throw the three coins — that reading also explains the moving lines, which are the part that changes.