The 64 I Ching Hexagrams
Each hexagram is listed by its standard King Wen number, with two trigrams, the original Chinese judgment, and a plain-English summary. Open one for detail, or cast a hexagram.
#1The Creative乾为天Pure yang, utmost strength: great success by holding to what is right — timing and power are present, but avoid overreaching.#2The Receptive坤为地Great capacity through yielding: support matters with softness and follow rather than lead, and things go very smoothly.#3Difficulty at the Beginning水雷屯Everything is hard at the start: put down roots and build structure; do not rush off on distant ventures.#4Youthful Folly山水蒙Ignorance awaiting guidance: seek teaching and learn first; sincerity brings a response.#5Waiting水天需Waiting is needed: wait with sincerity, and when the time comes you can cross the great river.#6Conflict天水讼A sign of dispute: stopping at the right point is auspicious; fighting to the bitter end brings misfortune.#7The Army地水师Mobilizing the masses: you need a seasoned, steady commander and a just cause.#8Holding Together水地比Alliance and attachment: choose the right backing and partners; sooner is better than later.#9Small Taming风天小畜Small accumulation: strength is not yet enough — conserve and build up energy.#10Treading天泽履Treading on the tiger's tail: acting with care lets you pass safely through danger.#11Peace地天泰Heaven and earth interact: communication flows freely — a time of great harmony.#12Standstill天地否Heaven and earth do not interact: a time of blockage — draw back and guard yourself.#13Fellowship天火同人Like-minded with others: open alliance can accomplish great things.#14Great Possession火天大有Great gains: a sign of abundant harvest — stay humble to hold what you have.#15Modesty地山谦The modest benefit: lowering your posture actually brings things to a good end.#16Enthusiasm雷地豫Moving with the momentum: with preparation, all goes joyfully and smoothly.#17Following泽雷随Following the times: follow the right people and trends, stay flexible rather than rigid.#18Work on the Decayed山风蛊Repairing accumulated ills: tackle the mess actively, and be careful both before and after.#19Approach地泽临Approaching from above: smooth for now, but guard against decline after the peak.#20Contemplation风地观Observing quietly: see clearly before acting, and lead by example.#21Biting Through火雷噬嗑Biting through obstacles: decisively clear blockages and keep right and wrong distinct.#22Grace山火贲The beauty of adornment: packaging helps but only so far — the core matters more.#23Splitting Apart山地剥A time of stripping away: the tide is receding — better to stop than to advance.#24Return地雷复One yang returns: a turning point appears; return to your place at your own pace.#25Innocence天雷无妄Acting without recklessness brings good fortune: keep to your role and do not speculate.#26Great Taming山天大畜Great nurturing: store up richly, then go out and put it to use.#27Nourishment山雷颐The way of nourishment: mind what you take in and be self-reliant.#28Great Exceeding泽风大过An extraordinary time: the load has reached its limit — extraordinary measures are needed.#29The Abysmal Water坎为水In repeated danger: hold to inner sincerity, and action bears merit.#30The Clinging Fire离为火Depending on light: see clearly what you rely on; being yielding is auspicious.#31Influence泽山咸Mutual attraction: sincere resonance and attraction — good to advance.#32Duration雷风恒The way of endurance: keep to the constant without corrupting it — a long, steady flow.#33Retreat天山遁Timely withdrawal: avoid the sharp edge; retreat is a way to preserve.#34Great Power雷天大壮Strong momentum: the greater the power, the more you must keep to what is right; don't rely on force.#35Progress火地晋Like the rising sun: a sign of promotion and advance — move forward openly and rightly.#36Darkening of the Light地火明夷The light is wounded: in a dark period, hide your edge and keep low.#37The Family风火家人The way of ordering the home: settle the inside and family first, and outside affairs follow.#38Opposition火泽睽Divergence and discord: seek common ground while keeping differences — fit for small matters, not big moves.#39Obstruction水山蹇The road ahead is blocked: detour and seek help; forcing through is unfavorable.#40Deliverance雷水解The impasse resolves: settle old matters quickly and be lenient with others.#41Decrease山泽损Decrease first, then gain: what you give out returns in another form.#42Increase风雷益A time of benefit: ride the momentum upward — benefiting others benefits yourself.#43Breakthrough泽天夬Resolutely removing trouble: cut when you must, but do it openly and rightly.#44Coming to Meet天风姤An unexpected encounter: beware seemingly accidental temptation and infiltration.#45Gathering Together泽地萃Gathering and converging: a sign of drawing together people and resources — gather with preparation.#46Pushing Upward地风升Rising step by step: ascend with the momentum and actively call on those who can help.#47Oppression泽水困A time of being trapped: hold your bottom line and dignity; too many words bring loss.#48The Well水风井The well nourishes without end: keep your fundamental base and maintain the infrastructure.#49Revolution泽火革A time of change: change when the time is ripe, with a just and clear name.#50The Cauldron火风鼎A sign of renewal: establish the new and carry it with steady weight.#51The Arousing Thunder震为雷Shock that wakes you: alarm but no real harm — use the shock for self-reflection.#52Keeping Still艮为山Stop when it is time to stop: still the desires and calm the spirit; don't be led by the outside.#53Development风山渐Gradual progress: step by step, things ripen in their own time.#54The Marrying Maiden雷泽归妹A sign of rushing for results: the standing and timing are off — slow down.#55Abundance雷火丰Abundance at its peak: a high moment — all the more, guard against decline after the peak.#56The Wanderer火山旅Traveling abroad: you are in a guest's position — stay low and yielding for good fortune.#57The Gentle Wind巽为风Humble penetration: enter with softness, and repeat and clarify the message.#58The Joyous Lake兑为泽A sign of joy: lead people with gladness, but joy must have principle.#59Dispersion风水涣Scattering then regathering: use a shared goal to draw hearts back together.#60Limitation水泽节Measured restraint: save where you should and spend where you should; over-tightening harms.#61Inner Truth风泽中孚Inmost sincerity: sincerity so deep it moves even fish and pigs — you can undertake great things.#62Small Exceeding雷山小过A small overstepping: fit for small, detailed matters, not for flying high or venturing big.#63After Completion水火既济Already across: after success, guard all the more — prevent a good start turning to disorder.#64Before Completion火水未济Not yet across: one last step remains — the closer to the end, the more careful.
Summaries are 1518's plain-English glosses of each hexagram, not a canonical translation. Chinese source: 六十四卦.