tàiAlso known as “Peace” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Thâi” (Legge)
peaceharmonyprosperity
In plain words
Earth above and heaven below, their energies meeting and mingling. The small departs, the great arrives: open communication, prosperity, a flourishing time.
The attitude it asks for
Enjoy it, share it and tend it: good times last longer when you stay humble and keep the channels open.
Structure
Upper trigram☷坤Kun (the Receptive)地 · earth · Earth
Lower trigram☰乾Qian (the Creative)天 · heaven · Metal
'The little come and the great gone in Thâi, and its indication that there will be good fortune with progress and success' show to us heaven and earth in communication with each other, and all things in consequence having free course, and (also) the high and the low, (superiors and inferiors), in communication with one another, and possessed by the same aim. The inner (trigram) is made up of the strong and undivided lines, and the outer of the weak and divided; the inner is (the symbol of) strength, and the outer of docility; the inner (represents) the superior man, and the outer the small man. (Thus) the way of the superior man appears increasing, and that of the small man decreasing.
The Image
天地交泰，后以財成天地之道，輔相天地之宜，以左右民。
(The trigrams for) heaven and earth in communication together form Thâi. The (sage) sovereign, in harmony with this, fashions and completes (his regulations) after the courses of heaven and earth, and assists the application of the adaptations furnished by them,—in order to benefit the people.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
城復于隍，勿用師。自邑告命，貞吝。
The sixth line, divided, shows us the city wall returned into the moat. It is not the time to use the army. (The subject of the line) may, indeed, announce his orders to the people of his own city; but however correct and firm he may be, he will have cause for regret.
Its symbolism
城復于隍，其命亂也。
'The city wall returned back into the moat' shows how the (governmental) orders have (long) been in disorder.
The fifth line, divided, reminds us of (king) Tî-yî's (rule about the) marriage of his younger sister. By such a course there is happiness and there will be great good fortune.
Its symbolism
以祉元吉，中以行愿也。
'By such a course there is happiness, and there will be great good fortune:'—(the subject of the line) employs the virtue proper to his central position to carry his wishes into effect.
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject fluttering (down);—not relying on his own rich resources, but calling in his neighbours. (They all come) not as having received warning, but in the sincerity (of their hearts).
Its symbolism
翩翩不富，皆失實也。不戒以孚，中心願也。
'He comes fluttering (down), not relying on his own rich resources:'—both he and his neighbours are out of their real (place where they are). 'They have not received warning, but (come) in the sincerity (of their hearts):'—this is what they have desired in the core of their hearts.
The third line, undivided, shows that, while there is no state of peace that is not liable to be disturbed, and no departure (of evil men) so that they shall not return, yet when one is firm and correct, as he realises the distresses that may arise, he will commit no error. There is no occasion for sadness at the certainty (of such recurring changes); and in this mood the happiness (of the present) may be (long) enjoyed.
Its symbolism
无往不復，天地際也。
'There is no going away so that there shall not be a return' refers to this as the point where the interaction of heaven and earth takes place.
The second line, undivided, shows one who can bear with the uncultivated, will cross the Ho without a boat, does not forget the distant, and has no (selfish) friendships. Thus does he prove himself acting in accordance with the course of the due Mean.
Its symbolism
包荒，得尚于中行，以光大也。
'He bears with the uncultivated, and proves himself acting in accordance with the due mean:'—for (his intelligence is) bright and (his capacity is) great.
The first line, undivided, suggests the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks with whose roots it is connected. Advance (on the part of its subject) will be fortunate.
Its symbolism
拔茅征吉，志在外也。
'The good fortune of advance, (as suggested by the emblem of) the grass pulled up,' arises from the will (of the party intended) being set on what is external to himself.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 11, Prosperity, mean?
Earth above and heaven below, their energies meeting and mingling. The small departs, the great arrives: open communication, prosperity, a flourishing time.
Which trigrams form Prosperity?
坤 above 乾 — earth over heaven. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 歸妹 Marrying the Younger Sister.
What happens when a line of Prosperity 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 Prosperity in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — — — - - - - - - is Prosperity. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.