The 64 hexagrams: chart and lookup

A hexagram has six lines: the lower three are the lower (inner) trigram, the upper three the upper (outer) trigram. Find the lower trigram in the rows on the left and the upper trigram in the columns on top; your hexagram is where they cross. For what each trigram stands for, see the eight trigrams and their images.

What the 64 hexagrams are

Each hexagram is a figure of six lines, every line either solid (yang) or broken (yin), counted from the bottom up. Two choices for each of six lines give sixty-four figures, and the Zhouyi gives every one of them a name, a judgment and a statement for each line. Every hexagram is also two trigrams stacked one on the other: eight possible trigrams below and eight above make the 8 × 8 chart that follows.

A cast with three coins gives you one of these hexagrams. If any of its lines are changing (old yin or old yang), they turn it into a second, resulting hexagram, and the rules for changing lines decide which text to read. For the whole process, see how to read a hexagram.

Lookup by trigram

The 64 hexagrams by trigram: columns are the upper trigram, rows the lower trigram
upper →lower ↓	乾Heaven	兌Lake	離Fire	震Thunder	巽Wind	坎Water	艮Mountain	坤Earth
乾Heaven	乾1 Qian	夬43 Guai	大有14 Dayou	大壯34 Dazhuang	小畜9 Xiaoxu	需5 Xu	大畜26 Daxu	泰11 Tai
兌Lake	履10 Lü	兌58 Dui	睽38 Kui	歸妹54 Guimei	中孚61 Zhongfu	節60 Jie	損41 Sun	臨19 Lin
離Fire	同人13 Tongren	革49 Ge	離30 Li	豐55 Feng	家人37 Jiaren	既濟63 Jiji	賁22 Bi	明夷36 Mingyi
震Thunder	无妄25 Wuwang	隨17 Sui	噬嗑21 Shihe	震51 Zhen	益42 Yi	屯3 Zhun	頤27 Yi	復24 Fu
巽Wind	姤44 Gou	大過28 Daguo	鼎50 Ding	恆32 Heng	巽57 Xun	井48 Jing	蠱18 Gu	升46 Sheng
坎Water	訟6 Song	困47 Kun	未濟64 Weiji	解40 Xie	渙59 Huan	坎29 Kan	蒙4 Meng	師7 Shi
艮Mountain	遯33 Dun	咸31 Xian	旅56 Lü	小過62 Xiaoguo	漸53 Jian	蹇39 Jian	艮52 Gen	謙15 Qian
坤Earth	否12 Pi	萃45 Cui	晉35 Jin	豫16 Yu	觀20 Guan	比8 Bi	剝23 Bo	坤2 Kun

Example: lower trigram Water, upper trigram Lake. They cross at hexagram 47, Kun (Exhaustion): Lake over Water.

The King Wen sequence

This is the received (King Wen) order. The first part has thirty hexagrams, from Qian and Kun to Kan and Li; the second has thirty-four, from Xian and Heng to Jiji and Weiji. Neighbors are mostly each other turned upside down, like Zhun and Meng; where turning changes nothing, every line is reversed instead, like Qian and Kun.

What each hexagram means, in one sentence

The gist of each hexagram in plain words. Open a hexagram for its judgment, its lines and the full reading.

Hexagram 1, Qian (Heaven): The momentum is just right. It is a good time to go all in, but don't overshoot.
Hexagram 2, Kun (Earth): It is not your turn to lead the charge right now. Follow the right person and do your supporting part well, and the result will be good.
Hexagram 3, Zhun (Difficult Beginnings): Every beginning is hard, and right now you are in the hardest part of the beginning.
Hexagram 4, Meng (Youthful Ignorance): You can't see clearly right now because you don't yet understand. It is time to go and ask, not to keep guessing.
Hexagram 5, Xu (Waiting): The time has not come yet. Wait.
Hexagram 6, Song (Conflict): There is a dispute, but fighting it to the end will do you no good.
Hexagram 7, Shi (The Army): This is a hard battle that takes a lot of people. What matters most is the leader and the discipline.
Hexagram 8, Bi (Alliance): It is time to find people to work with and draw close to your companions, and to do it early.
Hexagram 9, Xiaoxu (Small Restraint): One last push is still missing and it won't come off — the clouds are thick, but the rain hasn't fallen.
Hexagram 10, Lü (Treading): There is risk in this, but if you walk carefully and by the rules, you can get through safely.
Hexagram 11, Tai (Peace): A good time when above and below are in touch and everything runs smoothly.
Hexagram 12, Pi (Standstill): This is a time when everything is blocked and shut off. It is not a good time to get things done.
Hexagram 13, Tongren (Fellowship): Find like-minded people and do it together. This can succeed.
Hexagram 14, Dayou (Great Possession): A time of rich harvest. Everything goes very smoothly.
Hexagram 15, Qian (Humility): Lower yourself, and things actually go more smoothly.
Hexagram 16, Yu (Enthusiasm): People are willing and the mood is good. It suits getting everyone moving on something, but don't get lost in feeling pleased.
Hexagram 17, Sui (Following): Go with the times and follow the right people, and you won't go wrong.
Hexagram 18, Gu (Repairing Decay): Old problems that have piled up have reached the point where they must be dealt with.
Hexagram 19, Lin (Approach): Momentum is rising and you can push ahead actively, but remember it won't keep rising forever.
Hexagram 20, Guan (Contemplation): Don't move yet. Take a good look.
Hexagram 21, Shihe (Biting Through): Something is stuck in the middle, and you have to bite through it.
Hexagram 22, Bi (Adornment): A bit of packaging helps, but don't count on packaging to get things done.
Hexagram 23, Bo (Splitting Apart): The foundation is being hollowed out bit by bit. This is no time to act.
Hexagram 24, Fu (Return): The worst is over, and the turn has come.
Hexagram 25, Wuwang (Innocence): Honestly do what ought to be done. Don't count on luck, and don't make rash moves.
Hexagram 26, Daxu (Great Restraint): You have saved up plenty of capital. Time to take it out and use it.
Hexagram 27, Yi (Nourishment): The key question: what are you using to nourish yourself, and to nourish others?
Hexagram 28, Daguo (Great Excess): The load is too heavy and the beam is already bent. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
Hexagram 29, Kan (The Abyss): One danger after another. This is a truly hard time.
Hexagram 30, Li (Clinging Fire): Attach yourself to the right people and things, and the light can last.
Hexagram 31, Xian (Mutual Influence): There is a response between you, a mutual liking. That is a good thing.
Hexagram 32, Heng (Endurance): This one is won by lasting.
Hexagram 33, Dun (Retreat): It is time to withdraw. Withdraw in time and you will be fine.
Hexagram 34, Dazhuang (Great Strength): When your strength is great, the worst danger is using it in the wrong place.
Hexagram 35, Jin (Advance): A rising period; those above will recognize you.
Hexagram 36, Mingyi (Darkened Light): The light is pressed under the ground; for now, keep yourself somewhat hidden.
Hexagram 37, Jiaren (The Family): First put the affairs of the household (your own inner circle) in order.
Hexagram 38, Kui (Opposition): You are out of step with each other. Big things will not work; small ones still can.
Hexagram 39, Jian (Obstruction): The road ahead is very hard. Do not force your way forward yet.
Hexagram 40, Xie (Release): The difficulty is lifting; you can breathe out.
Hexagram 41, Sun (Decrease): Giving something up, cutting back a little, is worth it now.
Hexagram 42, Yi (Increase): There is help and there is gain; a good time to go ahead boldly.
Hexagram 43, Guai (Resolution): There is something that should be cleared away, and the time has come to decide.
Hexagram 44, Gou (Encounter): A person or a matter you run into unexpectedly; do not get deeply involved lightly.
Hexagram 45, Cui (Gathering): People and resources are coming together; this is the time to get things done.
Hexagram 46, Sheng (Rising): A steady rise; go forward with confidence.
Hexagram 47, Kun (Exhaustion): You are trapped, and right now no one believes anything you say.
Hexagram 48, Jing (The Well): The fundamental thing has not changed. The question is whether you are using it well, and using it all the way.
Hexagram 49, Ge (Revolution): The time has come when things must change, but wait until the moment is ripe.
Hexagram 50, Ding (The Cauldron): A new order is being set up. Great good fortune.
Hexagram 51, Zhen (Thunder): A sudden shock will give you a fright, but it will not really hurt you.
Hexagram 52, Gen (Stillness): Stop when it is time to stop, and mind what is properly your own business.
Hexagram 53, Jian (Gradual Progress): Go in order, one step at a time, and the outcome will be good.
Hexagram 54, Guimei (The Marrying Maiden): The position is wrong and the standing is not proper; pushing forward on your own initiative will cost you.
Hexagram 55, Feng (Abundance): This is the very height. Use it well, and know that what peaks will decline.
Hexagram 56, Lü (The Wanderer): You are away from home with no firm footing. Small matters are fine; do not seek anything big.
Hexagram 57, Xun (The Gentle Wind): Enter gently, going with the current, and there will be a small gain.
Hexagram 58, Dui (Joy): When people are amiable and enjoy each other's company, things go smoothly.
Hexagram 59, Huan (Dispersion): People's hearts, or the situation, have scattered and need to be drawn together again.
Hexagram 60, Jie (Limitation): Have restraint, but do not be so harsh that even you cannot bear it.
Hexagram 61, Zhongfu (Inner Truth): Sincerity moves people. This matter rests on one word: trust.
Hexagram 62, Xiaoguo (Small Excess): Small things can be done; do not touch the big ones. Better to stay a little low.
Hexagram 63, Jiji (After Completion): The thing is already accomplished. What you most need to guard against now is slackening.
Hexagram 64, Weiji (Before Completion): Not done yet. One last step remains, and this is the step where mistakes come most easily.