The Sixty-Four Hexagrams
Symbol · The Sixty-Four Hexagrams
Great Power
The Height of Strength
Strength at full extent, answerable to what is right; force used because it is there already overreaches.
What it meansThunder in heaven above — power at its loudest, and nothing yet done with it. The counsel is a restriction: do not tread on paths that are not in accord with order. Great strength is dangerous mostly to whoever holds it, and the remedy offered is manners.
Symbol · The Sixty-Four Hexagrams
Standstill
Heaven and Earth Apart
Nothing passes between above and below: keep your principles, decline the tainted post, sit it out.
What it meansHeaven above, earth below — each where it belongs, and therefore moving apart. The Image's counsel is retreat into inner worth: when the age will not take your virtue, do not sell it cheaply. Correct arrangement producing stagnation is the hexagram's whole point.
Symbol · The Sixty-Four Hexagrams
Decrease
The Willing Sacrifice
A loss offered in earnest: two small bowls serve, and what is given up strengthens what remains.
What it meansThe lake at the foot of the mountain, evaporating upward: the low thing diminished to feed the high. The Image makes it interior — control anger, restrain the instincts. What is given up is not resources but heat, and the gain is at the top of yourself.
- AbundanceThe Sun at MiddayI Ching
- After CompletionEvery Line in PlaceI Ching
- ApproachThe Strong Drawing NearI Ching
- Before CompletionThe Little Fox CrossingI Ching
- Biting ThroughThe Obstruction Between the TeethI Ching
- BreakthroughThe Open DeclarationI Ching
- Coming to MeetThe Dark Line ReturnsI Ching
- ConflictThe Cautious HaltI Ching
- ContemplationThe Ablution Before the OfferingI Ching
- Darkening of the LightThe Veiled LightI Ching
- DecreaseThe Willing SacrificeI Ching
- DeliveranceThe Tension ReleasedI Ching
- DevelopmentThe Wild Goose's AscentI Ching
- Difficulty at the BeginningThe Sprouting BladeI Ching
- DispersionThe Thawing WindI Ching
- DurationThe Enduring CourseI Ching
- EnthusiasmThunder Out of EarthI Ching
- FellowshipUnion in the OpenI Ching
- FollowingAdapting to the TimeI Ching
- Gathering TogetherThe King at the TempleI Ching
- GraceAdornment and Its LimitI Ching
- Great PossessionFire High in HeavenI Ching
- Great PowerThe Height of StrengthI Ching
- Great PreponderanceThe Sagging RidgepoleI Ching
- Great TamingStored-Up StrengthI Ching
- Holding TogetherThe Willing AllegianceI Ching
- IncreaseThe Gift DownwardI Ching
- InfluenceMutual AttractionI Ching
- Inner TruthEmpty at the CentreI Ching
- InnocenceThe UnexpectedI Ching
- LimitationNumber and MeasureI Ching
- ModestyThe Mountain Kept LowI Ching
- Mouth CornersProviding NourishmentI Ching
- ObstructionThe Halted PathI Ching
- OppositionThe Parting of WillsI Ching
- OppressionThe Lake Run DryI Ching
- PeaceHeaven and Earth UniteI Ching
- ProgressThe Rising SunI Ching
- Pushing UpwardThe Tree in the EarthI Ching
- RetreatThe Timely WithdrawalI Ching
- ReturnThe Turning PointI Ching
- RevolutionThe Moulting SkinI Ching
- Small PreponderanceThe Bird Flying LowI Ching
- Small TamingDense Clouds, No RainI Ching
- Splitting ApartThe Undermined FoundationI Ching
- StandstillHeaven and Earth ApartI Ching
- The Abysmal WaterThe Repeated PitI Ching
- The ArmyThe Disciplined MultitudeI Ching
- The Arousing ThunderThe Repeated ShockI Ching
- The CauldronThe Sacrificial VesselI Ching
- The Clinging FireThe Doubled BrightnessI Ching
- The Creative HeavenThe Dragon AscendingI Ching
- The FamilyThe Ordered HouseholdI Ching
- The Gentle WindThe Penetrating InfluenceI Ching
- The Joyous LakeThe Replenishing LakesI Ching
- The Keeping Still MountainMotion Come to RestI Ching
- The Marrying MaidenThe Younger SisterI Ching
- The Receptive EarthThe Yielding MareI Ching
- The WandererThe Passing FlameI Ching
- The WellThe Unchanging SourceI Ching
- TreadingUpon the Tiger's TailI Ching
- WaitingThe Clouds Before RainI Ching
- Work on the DecayedThe Vessel of WormsI Ching
- Youthful FollyThe Spring Beneath the MountainI Ching
