Meaning of 64 I Ching Hexagrams 2026
Explore the detailed meanings of the 64 hexagrams to better understand your path and the natural flows of the universe.
- ䷀
1. The Creative (Qian)
Success. Greatness. Perseverance. Heaven over Heaven: Symbolizes the dynamic force of creation, leadership, strength, and unwavering persistence.
- ䷁
2. The Receptive (Kun)
Success. Perseverance of a mare. Earth over Earth: Symbolizes the nurturing power of nature, devotion, yielding, and the supportive role of the feminine.
- ䷂
3. Difficulty at the Beginning (Zhun)
Success. Perseverance furthers. Water over Thunder: Symbolizes the first stirrings of life, potential within chaos, the need for order, and enduring initial hardships.
- ䷃
4. Youthful Folly (Meng)
Success. Not the teacher seeks the youth, the youth seeks the teacher. Mountain over Water: Symbolizes the ignorance of youth, the need for a mentor, the purity of a beginner, and learning through experience.
- ䷄
5. Waiting (Xu)
Sincere. Brilliant success. Perseverance brings good fortune. Water over Heaven: Symbolizes waiting for the right moment, inner preparation, nourishment, and patience before action.
- ䷅
6. Conflict (Song)
Sincere but obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune. Heaven over Water: Symbolizes disagreement, legal issues, the wisdom of compromise, and avoiding the finality of dispute.
- ䷆
7. The Army (Shi)
The army needs perseverance and a strong man. Earth over Water: Symbolizes collective strength, discipline, strategic leadership, and the power of organized mass.
- ䷇
8. Holding Together (Bi)
Good fortune. Inquire of the oracle once again. Water over Earth: Symbolizes community, mutual aid, social order, and the attraction of people toward a central authority.
- ䷈
9. The Taming Power of the Small (Xiaochu)
Success. Dense clouds, no rain from our western region. Wind over Heaven: Symbolizes small gains, gentle persuasion, restraint, accumulation of small things, and the need for patience.
- ䷉
10. Treading (Lu)
Treading upon the tail of the tiger. It does not bite the man. Success. Heaven over Lake: Symbolizes conduct, social grace, proper behavior in dangerous situations, and proceeding with caution.
- ䷊
11. Peace (Tai)
The small departs, the great approaches. Good fortune. Success. Earth over Heaven: Symbolizes harmony, prosperity, equilibrium between heaven and earth, and a time of smooth progress.
- ䷋
12. Standstill (Pi)
Evil people do not further the perseverance of the superior man. Heaven over Earth: Symbolizes stagnation, lack of communication, decline, and the necessity of inner strength during difficult times.
- ䷌
13. Fellowship with Men (Tongren)
Fellowship with men in the open. Success. Heaven over Fire: Symbolizes community, shared goals, universal brotherhood, social unity, and public service.
- ䷍
14. Possession in Great Measure (Dayu)
Supreme success. Fire over Heaven: Symbolizes abundance, great wealth, clarity of vision, leadership through virtue, and widespread influence.
- ䷎
15. Modesty (Qian)
Success. The superior man carries things through. Earth over Mountain: Symbolizes humility, leveling the heights, inner strength without outward display, and the power of lowliness.
- ䷏
16. Enthusiasm (Yu)
It furthers one to install helpers and set armies in motion. Thunder over Earth: Symbolizes inspiration, joy, creative energy, leadership that moves others, and timely action.
- ䷐
17. Following (Sui)
Supreme success. Perseverance furthers. No blame. Lake over Thunder: Symbolizes adaptability, following the path of least resistance, joy in movement, and the wisdom of timely yielding.
- ䷑
18. Work on what has been spoiled (Gu)
Supreme success. It furthers one to cross the great water. Mountain over Wind: Symbolizes repairing damage, correcting past mistakes, internal renewal, and the effort required for restoration.
- ䷒
19. Approach (Lin)
Supreme success. Perseverance furthers. Earth over Lake: Symbolizes progress, expansion, leadership that protects and teaches, and the approach of greatness.
- ䷓
20. Contemplation (Guan)
The ablution has been made, but not yet the offering. Wind over Earth: Symbolizes observation, seeking a higher view, inspection, clarity of vision, and internal reflection.
- ䷔
21. Biting Through (Shike)
Success. It furthers one to let justice be administered. Fire over Thunder: Symbolizes removing obstacles, clarity through action, legal justice, and the necessity of decisive force.
- ䷕
22. Grace (Bi)
Success. In small matters, it furthers one to undertake something. Mountain over Fire: Symbolizes beauty, adornment, artistic expression, clarity, and the value of outward form.
- ䷖
23. Splitting Apart (Bo)
It does not further one to go anywhere. Mountain over Earth: Symbolizes decline, decay, the stripping away of the old, and the necessity of caution during times of collapse.
- ䷗
24. Return (Fu)
Success. Going out and coming in without error. Earth over Thunder: Symbolizes the turning point, renewal, the return of light, recovery, and cyclical change.
- ䷘
25. Innocence (Wuwang)
Supreme success. Perseverance furthers. If someone is not as he should be, he has misfortune. Heaven over Thunder: Symbolizes natural action, spontaneity, freedom from ulterior motives, and the unexpected.
- ䷙
26. The Taming Power of the Great (Daxu)
Perseverance furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. Mountain over Heaven: Symbolizes major accumulation, storage of potential, firm strength, and the importance of nourishing others.
- ䷚
27. The Corners of the Mouth (Yi)
Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment. Mountain over Thunder: Symbolizes nourishment, self-care, maintaining health, proper speech, and the power of moderation.
- ䷛
28. Preponderance of the Great (Daguo)
The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Lake over Wind: Symbolizes extraordinary times, excessive weight, the need for decisive action, and reaching a breaking point.
- ䷜
29. The Abysmal (Kan)
If you are sincere, you have success in your heart. Pure Water: Symbolizes danger, deep water, the heart’s endurance, abyss, and the necessity of maintaining inner truth.
- ䷝
30. The Clinging (Li)
Perseverance furthers. It brings success. Care of the cow brings good fortune. Pure Fire: Symbolizes clarity, radiance, attachment, dependence on what is light, and the spreading of brilliance.
- ䷞
31. Influence (Xian)
Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune. Lake over Mountain: Symbolizes attraction, resonance, mutual influence, sensitivity, and the power of feeling.
- ䷟
32. Duration (Heng)
Success. No blame. Perseverance furthers. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Thunder over Wind: Symbolizes constancy, long-term stability, perseverance in the path, and enduring bonds.
- ䷠
33. Retreat (Dun)
Success. In what is small, perseverance furthers. Heaven over Mountain: Symbolizes withdrawal, saving strength, avoiding conflict with small people, and the wisdom of timely retreat.
- ䷡
34. The Power of the Great (Dazhuang)
Perseverance furthers. Thunder over Heaven: Symbolizes great strength, holding to what is right, noble purpose, and the power of integrity.
- ䷢
35. Progress (Jin)
The powerful prince is honored with horses in large numbers. Fire over Earth: Symbolizes advancement, clarity emerging from the earth, success, and the expansion of influence.
- ䷣
36. Darkening of the Light (Mingyi)
In adversity it furthers one to be persevering. Earth over Fire: Symbolizes injury, hardship, the light hidden in the earth, and maintaining inner clarity during dark times.
- ䷤
37. The Family (Jiaren)
The perseverance of the woman furthers. Wind over Fire: Symbolizes the internal structure of the home, proper relationships, ethics, and the foundation of society.
- ䷥
38. Opposition (Kui)
In small matters, good fortune. Fire over Lake: Symbolizes misunderstanding, conflict, different perspectives, and seeking common ground within diversity.
- ䷦
39. Obstruction (Jian)
The southwest furthers. The northeast does not further. Water over Mountain: Symbolizes difficulty, danger ahead, the need for caution, and the wisdom of self-reflection.
- ䷧
40. Deliverance (Xie)
The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune. Thunder over Water: Symbolizes release from tension, forgiveness, resolution of difficulties, and timely action.
- ䷨
41. Decrease (Sun)
Decreasing the lower to increase the upper. Success. Mountain over Lake: Symbolizes reduction of excess, self-restraint, letting go of the old, and the wisdom of sacrifice for the greater good.
- ䷩
42. Increase (Yi)
Success. It furthers one to undertake something. Wind over Thunder: Symbolizes gain, expansion, social contribution, growth through effort, and widespread influence.
- ䷪
43. Breakthrough (Guai)
One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king. Lake over Heaven: Symbolizes resoluteness, decisive action, clearing away obstacles, and the triumph of the noble over the base.
- ䷫
44. Coming to Meet (Gou)
The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden. Heaven over Wind: Symbolizes unexpected encounter, potential danger from hidden influences, and the need for caution in relationships.
- ䷬
45. Gathering Together (Cui)
Success. The king approaches his temple. Lake over Earth: Symbolizes assembly, solidarity, social gathering, group harmony, and the strength of collective purpose.
- ䷭
46. Pushing Upward (Sheng)
Supreme success. One must see the great man. Earth over Wind: Symbolizes growth, rising through effort, accumulation of small steps, and steady progress toward a goal.
- ䷮
47. Oppression (Kun)
Success. Perseverance. The great man brings about good fortune. Lake over Water: Symbolizes exhaustion, hardship, being trapped, and the testing of character through adversity.
- ䷯
48. The Well (Jing)
The town may be changed, but the well cannot be changed. Water over Wind: Symbolizes inexhaustible resources, deep wisdom, social foundation, and the constant source of nourishment.
- ䷰
49. Revolution (Ge)
On your own day you are believed. Supreme success. Lake over Fire: Symbolizes fundamental change, shedding the old, transformation, timing, and the necessity of public trust.
- ䷱
50. The Cauldron (Ding)
Supreme good fortune. Success. Fire over Wind: Symbolizes stability, spiritual nourishment, cultural refinement, the vessel of leadership, and transformation through fire.
- ䷲
51. The Arousing (Zhen)
Shock brings success. Thunder comes—booh-hoo! Pure Thunder: Symbolizes sudden movement, awakening, shock that leads to awareness, and the power of divine energy.
- ䷳
52. Keeping Still (Gen)
Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. Pure Mountain: Symbolizes meditation, tranquility, inner peace, the end of movement, and the wisdom of stopping.
- ䷴
53. Development (Jian)
The maiden is given in marriage. Good fortune. Wind over Mountain: Symbolizes gradual progress, sequential growth, organic development, and the importance of steady advancement.
- ䷵
54. The Marrying Maiden (Guimei)
Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further. Thunder over Lake: Symbolizes improper relationships, lack of sequence, emotional impulsiveness, and the need for correct order.
- ䷶
55. Abundance (Feng)
Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Thunder over Fire: Symbolizes peak achievement, peak of light and energy, great harvest, and the need for clarity in the midst of wealth.
- ䷷
56. The Wanderer (Lu)
Success through smallness. Perseverance brings good fortune to the wanderer. Fire over Mountain: Symbolizes the journey, detachment, temporary stay, seeking a home, and the wisdom of the guest.
- ䷸
57. The Gentle (Sun)
Success through smallness. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Pure Wind: Symbolizes penetration, subtle influence, adaptability, following through, and the power of persistent effort.
- ䷹
58. The Joyous (Dui)
Success. Perseverance furthers. Pure Lake: Symbolizes pleasure, open communication, shared joy, artistic expression, and the value of harmonious speech.
- ䷺
59. Dispersion (Huan)
Success. The king approaches his temple. Wind over Water: Symbolizes dissolving rigidity, scattering obstacles, spiritual unity, and the flow of energy over boundaries.
- ䷻
60. Limitation (Jie)
Success. Galling limitation must not be persevered in. Water over Lake: Symbolizes restraint, setting boundaries, moderation, the structure of life, and the discipline of form.
- ䷼
61. Inner Truth (Zhongfu)
Pigs and fishes. Good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water. Wind over Lake: Symbolizes sincerity, heart-to-heart connection, inner faith, and the influence of genuine spirit.
- ䷽
62. Preponderance of the Small (Xiaoguo)
Success. Perseverance furthers. Small things may be done; great things should not be done. Thunder over Mountain: Symbolizes exceptional caution, attention to detail, humility in action, and maintaining a low profile.
- ䷾
63. After Completion (Jiji)
Success in small matters. Perseverance furthers. Water over Fire: Symbolizes equilibrium reached, order established, the peak of achievement, and the need for vigilance to maintain balance.
- ䷿
64. Before Completion (Weiji)
Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further. Fire over Water: Symbolizes transition, the dawn of a new cycle, potential for completion, and the necessity of final effort.