The 64 hexagrams · Read the I Ching
The eight trigrams
Every hexagram is two trigrams, one above the other. Learn these eight and you can read the structure of all sixty-four: what each pictures, which element and family member it stands for, and where it sits in the two classical arrangements.
乾qiánQian (the Creative)
Three unbroken lines: heaven, the creative, pure yang. Strength, initiative, the father, the head; metal, the northwest. It leads, begins and persists — and in excess it hardens into arrogance.
- Image
- heaven 天
- Element
- Metal 金
- Family role
- father 父
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- northwest 西北
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 1 / 6
Above in
兌duìDui (the Joyous)
A broken line resting on two solid ones: the lake or marsh, the joyous, the youngest daughter. Openness, speech, pleasure and exchange; metal, the west, autumn. Joy that is shared, and the mouth that can also wound.
- Image
- lake 澤
- Element
- Metal 金
- Family role
- youngest daughter 少女
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- west 西
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 2 / 7
Above in
離líLi (the Clinging)
Yin held between two yang lines: fire, light, the clinging; the middle daughter. Clarity, culture, dependence on what feeds it; the south, summer. Brightness that must attach to something to burn.
- Image
- fire 火
- Element
- Fire 火
- Family role
- middle daughter 中女
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- south 南
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 3 / 9
Above in
震zhènZhen (the Arousing)
One solid line pushing up under two broken ones: thunder, the arousing, the eldest son. Movement, shock, beginnings, courage; wood, the east, spring. The first stir that wakes everything.
- Image
- thunder 雷
- Element
- Wood 木
- Family role
- eldest son 長男
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- east 東
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 4 / 3
Above in
巽xùnXun (the Gentle)
A broken line beneath two solid ones: wind and wood, the gentle, the eldest daughter. Penetration, gradual influence, flexibility; the southeast, late spring. What enters everywhere without force.
- Image
- wind 風
- Element
- Wood 木
- Family role
- eldest daughter 長女
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- southeast 東南
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 5 / 4
Above in
坎kǎnKan (the Abysmal)
A solid line between two broken ones: water, the abyss, danger; the middle son. Depth, flow, hardship met with sincerity; the north, winter. Strength hidden inside softness.
- Image
- water 水
- Element
- Water 水
- Family role
- middle son 中男
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- north 北
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 6 / 1
Above in
艮gènGen (Keeping Still)
A solid line resting on two broken ones: the mountain, keeping still; the youngest son. Stopping, boundaries, stability, meditation; earth, the northeast, the turn of the year. Knowing where to stop.
- Image
- mountain 山
- Element
- Earth 土
- Family role
- youngest son 少男
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- northeast 東北
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 7 / 8
Above in
坤kūnKun (the Receptive)
Three broken lines: earth, the receptive, pure yin. Nourishment, devotion, patience, the mother, the belly; the southwest, late summer. It carries and completes what heaven begins.
- Image
- earth 地
- Element
- Earth 土
- Family role
- mother 母
- Direction (Later Heaven)
- southwest 西南
- Numbers (Early / Later Heaven)
- 8 / 2
Above in