Two and two of the trigrams together make a hexagram. We have 8 trigrams and 8×8 = 64 Hexagrams. Trigrams are the 8 basic buildingblocks of chinese philosophy. The hexagrams reflect how they combine to form different life situations, challenges, lessons and their solution.
Both Trigrams and Hexagrams are made with unbroken “yang” lines and broken “yin” lines to form the 8 and 64 possible combinations.
The trigrams combine two and two to create the 64 Hexagrams
The 64 Hexagrams
Hexagram 1 is named 乾 (qián)
“Force”
, “the creative”, “strong action”, “the key”, and “god”
Its inner (lower) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven, and its outer (upper) trigram is the same.
Hexagram 2 is named 坤 (kūn), “Field”. Other variations include “the receptive”, “acquiescence”, and “the flow”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth, and its outer (upper) trigram is identical.
Hexagram 3 is named 屯 (zhūn), “Sprouting”. Other variations include “difficulty at the beginning”, “gathering support”, and “hoarding”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water.
Hexagram 4 is named 蒙 (méng), “Enveloping”. Other variations include “youthful folly”, “the young shoot”, and “discovering”. Its inner trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water. Its outer trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (
山) mountain.
Hexagram 5 is named 需 (xū), “Attending”. Other variations include “waiting”, “moistened”, and “arriving”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water.
Hexagram 6 is named 訟 (sòng), “Arguing”. Other variations include “conflict” and “lawsuit”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven.
Hexagram 7 is named 師 (shī), “Leading”. Other variations include “the army” and “the troops”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth.
Hexagram 8 is named 比 (bǐ), “Grouping”. Other variations include “holding together” and “alliance”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water.
Hexagram 9 is named 小畜 (xiǎo chù), “Small Accumulating”. Other variations include “the taming power of the small” and “small harvest”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (
風) wind.
Hexagram 10 is named 履 (lǚ), “Treading”. Other variations include “treading (conduct)” and “continuing”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (
澤) swamp, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven.
Hexagram 11 is named 泰 (tài), “Pervading”. Other variations include “peace” and “greatness”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth.
Hexagram 12 is named 否 (pǐ), “Obstruction”. Other variations include “standstill (stagnation)” and “selfish persons”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven.
Hexagram 13 is named 同人 (tóng rén), “Concording People”. Other variations include “fellowship with men” and “gathering men”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (
火) fire, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven.
Hexagram 14 is named 大有 (dà yǒu), “Great Possessing”. Other variations include “possession in great measure” and “the great possession”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heaven, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (
火) fire.
Hexagram 15 is named 謙 (qiān), “Humbling”. Other variations include “modesty”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (
山) mountain and its outer (upper) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth.
Hexagram 16 is named 豫 (yù), “Providing-For”. Other variations include “enthusiasm” and “excess”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (雷) thunder.
Hexagram 17 is named 隨 (suí), “Following”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder, and its outer (upper)
trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (
澤) swamp.
Hexagram 18 is named 蠱 (gǔ), “Correcting”. Other variations include “work on what has been spoiled (decay)”,
decaying and “branch”.
[1] Its inner (lower) trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (
風) wind, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (
山) mountain.
Gu is the name of a venom-based poison traditionally used in Chinese witchcraft.
Hexagram 19 is named 臨 (lín), “Nearing”. Other variations include “approach” and “the forest”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth.
Hexagram 20 is named 觀 (guān), “Viewing”. Other variations include “contemplation (view)” and “looking up”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (
風) wind.
Hexagram 21 is named 噬嗑 (shì kè), “Gnawing Bite”. Other variations include “biting through” and “biting and chewing”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (雷) thunder, and its outer trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire.
Hexagram 22 is named 賁 (bì), “Adorning”. Other variations include “grace” and “luxuriance”. Its inner (lower) trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire, and its outer (upper) trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain.
Hexagram 23 is named 剝 (bō), “Stripping”. Other variations include “splitting apart” and “flaying”. Its inner trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth, and its outer trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain.
Hexagram 24 is named 復 (fù), “Returning”. Other variations include “return (the turning point)”. Its inner trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder, and its outer trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (
地) earth.
Hexagram 25 is named 無妄 (wú wàng), “Without Embroiling”. Other variations include “innocence (the unexpected)” and “pestilence”. Its inner trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder, and its outer trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (
天) heave
Hexagram 26 is named 大畜 (dà chù), “Great Accumulating”. Other variations include “the taming power of the great”, “great storage”, and “potential energy”. Its inner trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (天) heaven, and its outer trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain.
Hexagram 27 is named 頤 (yí), “Swallowing”. Other variations include “the corners of the mouth (providing nourishment)”, “jaws” and “comfort/security”. Its inner trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder, and its outer trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain.
Hexagram 28 is named 大過 (dà guò), “Great Exceeding”. Other variations include “preponderance of the great”, “great surpassing” and “critical mass”. Its inner trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind, and its outer trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 29 is named 坎 (kǎn), “Gorge”. Other variations include “the abyss” (in the oceanographic sense) and “repeated entrapment”. Its inner trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water, and its outer trigram is identical.
Hexagram 30 is named 離 (lí), “Radiance”. Other variations include “the clinging, fire” and “the net”. Its inner trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire, and its outer trigram is identical. The origin of the character has its roots in symbols of long-tailed birds such as the peacock or the legendary phoenix.
Hexagram 31 is named 咸 (xián), “Conjoining”. Other variations include “influence (wooing)” and “feelings”. Its inner trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain, and its outer trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 32 is named 恆 (héng), “Persevering”. Other variations include “duration” and “constancy”. Its inner trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind, and its outer trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (雷) thunder.
Hexagram 33 is named 遯 (dùn), “Retiring”. Other variations include “retreat” and “yielding”. Its inner trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain, and its outer trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (天) heaven.
Hexagram 34 is named 大壯 (dà zhuàng), “Great Invigorating”. Other variations include “the power of the great” and “great maturity”. Its inner trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (天) heaven, and its outer trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (雷) thunder.
Hexagram 35 is named 晉 (jìn), “Prospering”. Other variations include “progress” and “aquas”. Its inner trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth, and its outer trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire.
Hexagram 36 is named 明夷 (míng yí), “Darkening of the Light”. Other variations include “brilliance injured” and “intelligence hidden”. Its inner trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire, and its outer trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth.
Hexagram 37 is named 家人 (jiā rén), “Dwelling People”. Other variations include “the family (the clan)” and “family members”. Its inner trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire, and its outer trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind.
Hexagram 38 is named 睽 (kuí), “Polarising”. Other variations include “opposition” and “perversion”. Its inner trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp, and its outer trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire.
Hexagram 39 is named 蹇 (jiǎn), “Limping”. Other variations include “obstruction” and “afoot”. Its inner trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain, and its outer trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water.
Hexagram 40 is named 解 (xiè), “Taking-Apart”. Other variations include “deliverance” and “untangled”. Its inner trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water, and its outer trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder.
Hexagram 41 is named 損 (sǔn), “Diminishing”. Other variations include “decrease”. Its inner trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp, and its outer trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain.
Hexagram 42 is named 益 (yì), “Augmenting”. Other variations include “increase”. Its inner trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder, and its outer trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (
風) wind.
Hexagram 43 is named 夬 (guài), “Displacement”. Other variations include “resoluteness”, “parting”, and “break-through”. Its inner trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (天) heaven, and its outer trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 44 is named 姤 (gòu), “Coupling”. Other variations include “coming to meet” and “meeting”. Its inner trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind, and its outer trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (天) heaven.
Hexagram 45 is named 萃 (cuì), “Clustering”. Other variations include “gathering together (massing)” and “finished”. Its inner trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth, and its outer trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 46 is named 升 (shēng), “Ascending”. Other variations include “pushing upward”. Its inner trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind, and its outer trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth.
Hexagram 47 is named 困 (kùn), “Confining”. Other variations include “oppression (exhaustion)” and “entangled”. Its inner trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water, and its outer trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 48 is named 井 (jǐng), “Welling”. Other variations include “the well”. Its inner trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind, and its outer trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water.
Hexagram 49 is named 革 (gé), “Skinning”. Other variations include “revolution (molting)” and “the bridle”. Its inner trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire, and its outer trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 50 is named 鼎 (dǐng), “Holding”. Other variations include “the cauldron”. Its inner trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind, and its outer trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire.
Hexagram 51 is named 震 (zhèn), “Shake”. Other variations include “the arousing (shock, thunder)” and “thunder”. Both its inner and outer trigrams are ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder.
Hexagram 52 is named 艮 (gèn), “Bound”. Other variations include “keeping still, mountain” and “stilling”. Both its inner and outer trigrams are ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain.
Hexagram 53 is named 漸 (jiàn), “Infiltrating”. Other variations include “development (gradual progress)” and “advancement”. Its inner trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain, and its outer trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind.
Hexagram 54 is named 歸妹 (guī mèi), “Converting the Maiden”. Other variations include “the marrying maiden” and “returning maiden”. Its inner trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp, and its outer trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder.
Hexagram 55 is named 豐 (fēng), “Abounding”. Other variations include “abundance” and “fullness”. Its inner trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (
火) fire, and its outer trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (
雷) thunder.
Hexagram 56 is named 旅 (lǚ), “Sojourning”. Other variations include “the wanderer” and “traveling”. Its inner trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain, and its outer trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire.
Hexagram 57 is named 巽 (xùn), “Ground”. Other variations include “the gentle (the penetrating, wind)” and “calculations”. Both its inner and outer trigrams are ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind.
Hexagram 58 is named 兌 (duì), “Open”. Other variations include “the joyous, lake” and “usurpation”. Both its inner and outer trigrams are ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 59 is named 渙 (huàn), “Dispersing”. Other variations include “dispersion (dissolution)” and “dispersal”. Its inner trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water, and its outer trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind.
Hexagram 60 is named 節 (jié), “Articulating”. Other variations include “limitation” and “moderation”. Its inner trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp, and its outer trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water.
Hexagram 61 is named 中孚 (zhōng fú), “Center Returning”. Other variations include “inner truth” and “central return”. Its inner trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (
澤) swamp, and its outer trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (
風) wind.
Hexagram 62 is named 小過 (xiǎo guò), “Small Exceeding”. Other variations include “preponderance of the small” and “small surpassing”. Its inner trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain, and its outer trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (雷) thunder.
Hexagram 63 is named 既濟 (jì jì), “Already Fording”. Other variations include “after completion” and “already completed” or “already done” . Its inner trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (
火) fire, and its outer trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (
水) water.
Hexagram 64 is named 未濟 (wèi jì), “Not Yet Fording”. Other variations include “before completion” and “not yet completed”. Its inner trigram is ☵ (坎 kǎn) gorge = (水) water, and its outer trigram is ☲ (離 lí) radiance = (火) fire.
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Hexagram 26 is named 大畜 (dà chù), “Great Accumulating”. Other variations include “the taming power of the great”, “great storage”, and “potential energy”. Its inner trigram is ☰ (乾 qián) force = (天) heaven, and its outer trigram is ☶ (艮 gèn) bound = (山) mountain.
Hexagram 28 is named 大過 (dà guò), “Great Exceeding”. Other variations include “preponderance of the great”, “great surpassing” and “critical mass”. Its inner trigram is ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind, and its outer trigram is ☱ (兌 duì) open = (澤) swamp.
Hexagram 57 is named 巽 (xùn), “Ground”. Other variations include “the gentle (the penetrating, wind)” and “calculations”. Both its inner and outer trigrams are ☴ (巽 xùn) ground = (風) wind.
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