I Ching by Jhian

(a work in progress)

Several hexagrams and their Judgments and/or changing lines are posted here (see the
download button below). Please note that the words stressed with red may be subject of
change anytime later. Those stressed with green are new (still one should compare the new
translations with the old ones for variations). Phrases written with italics are the author’s
(Master Jhian) explanation of the hexagram lines as well as of the Judgments.

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I-ching Hexagrams

1. Big Yang
Your leadership is sustained. [Good for hard work]

1. Here action is not required.

2. Here action is required – one sees or is seen as a Master and must be consulted (as
such).

4. Hesitation to leap - no misfortune. This is because you didn’t take any decision yet.

6. You can’t reach that much.

2. Big Yin
Don't lead, but follow. [Allow the prevailing way to guide you]

1. Counting the actual

4. There’s nothing you should care about (no danger).

3. Difficult at beginning.
Don't push now. First analyze then hire helpers.

1. You need to be granted authority in order to succeed. Otherwise you’ll fail.

4. Wait patiently and in the end success will come.

4. The Dodder
Good luck for the dodder should he follow the wise.

1. When you want to penalize the dodder don’t go too far.

5. Waiting
Though there's not so much to do now, there's a promise of good deal next.

4. You reach the place of blood (trouble) with your enemy. Finally a good issue through
retreat).

6. Pretension
Don’t go with your pretension to the extreme.

2. Retreat and be satisfied with a small gain.

4. Retreat and submit to your destiny (Heaven decree).

6. Any gain is followed by an equal loss.

7. Campaign
The noble one obtains great success.

2. You should share the same nature with others in order to continue with your business.

3. Perhaps you shouldn’t lead but follow others.

8. Togetherness
you meet others with the same aim in order to succeed.

5. You must accept only what the actual circumstances allow. It’s not up of your choice.

9. The power of the Small (Small Retain)

1. Coming back to your way – is this wrong? Good fortune.

5. He brings richness to others.

6. A certain success has been obtained but it is far for the completeness aimed at.

10. Trading
It is a difficult business but you’ll manage the good end.

11. Great
Going small and coming great.

6. There’s a change for the worse. All you can do is to blame yourself and wait patiently the
change for the better. (About this change see also line 3).

12. Stagnation
Evil people don’t support you but their own plans.

4. Submit to the ruler’s order (to the Heaven’s will) and you'll succeed.

5. Much care is required at the end of stagnation.

6. Stagnation ends.

14. Great possessions (Massing)

Everything further.

1. There’s nothing you should be afraid of.

3. Only a few people may attain/access this goal.

4. One must keep everything under restrain.

6. It is like Heaven supports you!

15. Modesty
Small gains. (General advice: the Noble one should temper his excess).

Note: Another translation of this title is “humility”. But “modesty” is the better choice
because it is not so much a matter of humility but of knowing to deal with the actual
conditions. Modesty is the conduct of someone who steps back when meeting a great
person, that is, an official (see also the lines 5 and 6 final note).

2. Modesty that shows up is much appreciated. (See the note above.)

3. Your merit is acknowledged. Good fortune.

5 It is advisable to use force

6. The use of force (see line 5) should be mode on a local base.

Lines 5 and 6- though this hexagram advise one to behave with humility, that is, with
decorum, the last two line suggest the use of the force which seems contrary to the
orientation of the hexagram at all. This is because humility alone didn’t succeeded in
achieving the questioner goal.
16. Enthusiasm
You should operate on a great scale (or all together now).

3. Huge satisfaction is missing here. This is due to the delay.

Note: The analysis of the lines relationship shows that the third line is missing self-reliance
which is considered to be bad (I am not sure why as long as this hexagram insists on the all
together now effort. See the Judgment). This line is on a transition place and depends on the
fourth one, a yang, strong line, but sitting on a yin place.

The nuclear trigrams are Mountain and Water – immobility and danger – which means
staying still in the middle of danger which is wrong. But the immobility may lead one to
thinking to the delay.

The interpretation here may be: you won’t have a great success due to the delay of exiting
from the actual danger. And this is because you can not rely on your self and your correlate
(line 4) is not correct.

When changing, this line gave birth to the hexagram of Small gains, where it is said that it
is better not to mount but stay low instead. Perhaps we should take this advice as a simple
note saying that there is no reason to expect a great success.

17. The Following

4. You meet people who follow their interest. Bad luck. But should you explain in plain
words the reason of the joining, there’ll be luck.

18. Decay
Deliberate seriously before you take any new step further.

1. In order to repair what has been spoiled by you or someone else, it needs a good servant.

2. Here the mess is due to the weakness. Your persistence in repairing it is not required.

3. Here the repair doesn’t lead to much regret.

6. Here is shown someone who doesn’t care anything and just follows his/her own interest.
(Note: He may be a saint as well as a sociopath).

19. Working together (Approach)

Beware of the disagreements.

2. Advancement together.

3. Complacent advancement. Beware.

4. Supreme!
5. Behave like you were in touch with a noble person. Success.

20. View
There's still something left to do.

4. Someone with such expertise should be treated with high esteem.

6. The advancement or retreat, that is, everything here, depends on your choice.

21. Penetration
You need to be steadfast and take the strong measures to fight the existing opposing
situation.

22. Adornment
You care too much for your bear. There's not so much to do (in this case).

1. You left the gold path and take the hardness of the work upon your shoulders.

2. Showing interest in charming.

3. Perseverance furthers.

5. You aim at too much and receive but a little.

6. All white. That is, extremely simple or without pretence.

23. Split
Nothing can be done. Just stop and wait (the change of the current conditions).

1. The bad influence of inferior people affect you as well.

2. One is broke through his relatives.

3. You are counted among the bad doers.

6. The superior one benefits from the actual situation while the inferior ones are destroyed.
(There are things that benefit only superior people.)

24. Return (Fu)

Nothing new - the same as yesterday. (Something or someone returns).

25. Innocence/The Unexpected

This is about sincerity which is misplaced or meets with trouble.

2. Success only if you have much luck.

4. Remain firm – no error.

5. Don’t take any measure because you didn’t cause the actual situation.

26. Great restraint

[It’s good to start something as you have the power to succeed.

2. Stop and wait.

6. You must follow the Heaven’s course.*

(*)The stress here on the Heaven’s course is proof of the I-ching being inspired by the
Taoism. About the Heaven’s course/way, which is a Taoist basic theme, I talked in my level
1 of the Taoism initiation course. I suggest you take this course if you wish to understand
this basic concept.

27. Nourishing
You must find the best method of providing your services/cares. (Doesn’t exclude the
benefits).

1. You don‘t get any benefit even if you make use of your excellence. All in vain.

28.

6. Though you failed, your effort is meritorious. No blame.

(This happens when one walks against the flow to serve a generous idea. He fails but his
effort still deserves praise).

29. Danger
Keep your mind/heart undisturbed by the many unexpected hits. Finally you’ll get out of
trouble.

1. This is a very dangerous situation. And what is worst is you can’t take any direction like
in a trap. Legge: He will by his efforts only involve himself more deeply in danger.

5. Be modest. Don’t push too much.

30. Li (Fire) – Clinging, Depending on

3. The expected happiness is missing here or will not last long.

4. He comes and goes suddenly, without a trace, that is, not a lasting effect.

5. It further one to contend.

6. When you punish the rebellion act only on the chiefs. Leave the rest alone. That is, you
should focus on what really matters and leave the rest alone.

Or you should focus and continue by striking all that is contrary to your aim.

31. Influence (Courtship)

Advantage in proceeding like you are courting a young girl.

32. Duration.
Don’t change the direction.

3. There’s no persistence. Disaster.

4. The hunt doesn’t have a goal.

5. One should take the lead instead of following.

34. Power of the Great

Don’t trust your power – think of what should one do in this specific life situation.

35.

4. The problem here is your way of doing things – you are too shy or hesitant like a mouse.

36. Offence
This is about offence. Mind not - just keep a low profile.

38. Divergences.

1. Don’t chase what seems it doesn’t fit you. Take another direction instead. No remorse.

39. Stumbling

2. If you didn’t achieve your aim it is because it’s impossible.

35. Progress
You need someone or something which acts like as bridge between you and the other(s).

2. Blessings (limited) from your grandmother.

6. You go to far. This is embarrassing.

41. Decrease

3. Decrease is followed by increase.

6. Increase others without decreasing himself… (he protects his goods).

42. Increase

3. You may be successful through unorthodox (even bad) ways but you wish to be
recognized as a man of merit. The advice is to follow the middle path.

4. Here is pictured someone who has a good expertise on important matters. One should
follow him.

6. Nobody increases you, but attack instead. You should continue with perseverance
otherwise disaster.

44. Meeting
She's very strong. Nobody can surpass her (like in a contest).

2. You are successful but you have to conceal your relationship with someone who doesn’t
have to be met.

5. Should you keep your network??? conceal you’ll be successful as by charm. (Here the
Heaven is a metaphor of the easy and marvelous success of this line).

46. Pushing/Rising

2. Perhaps you’ll get a little profit from the actual business. (See also the judgment of
hexagram 15)

3. There’s no obstruction.

4. One acquires fame and respect as like being part of the Who’s Who.

6. Advancing without direction - you must continue with perseverance.

47. Exhaustion
Your claim is not believed.

4. He is late in providing help for those below. He must behave like those of his rank. Still
ultimately successful.

5. In his difficult place he must show much seriousness.

48. The Well

No matter what you do the difficulty remains.

2. They don’t give a shit!

3. The public at large should be announced about this opportunity.

6. Everything is here and offered to the wide public.

49. Change
Keep the old path until you are required to switch to a new one.

1. Not appropriate.

50. Nourishment (Ting).

Everything further.

1. The concubine doesn’t have a suitable position. Still she is able to bear a child. The same
in the real life when you meet someone/something which provides both embarrassment and
advantage.

2. You have plenty of it. Still you should be cautious about where you go and whom you
associate with.

51. Excitement (towards movement)

Though there are many shocks, there’s no echo, nor any active reaction.

52. Stillness
Look at the things at hand.

53.

3. Nobody’s doing here what he/she should (what is right). You must arm against scam.

54. Bride
There's nothing to be done.

6. There’s no real (consistent) cooperation between the involved parts.

55. Plenitude
Work hard. (Be) like the sun at noon.

3. You fail but not because of you.

4. You should meet with people like you.

6. Isolated with your goods and abilities. Disaster.

56. The stranger

There's not so much to do for a stranger. (But to adopt the rules of those who host him).
6. You failed because of your own error (like a bird which burns its nest).

57. Gentle (penetration)

Little attainment. You should see the great man.

1. You need vigor and decision.

5. Same as the judgment of hexagram #18, decay.

6. You know what the problem is but you can’t do anything to fix it.

59. Scattering

1. A strong helper is needed to fight the peril.

4. Legge’s comment: He brings dissentient partisanship to an end – that is, he leaves

struggle and opposition and embraces amity.

6. You should dissolve all the motives that may lead you to hurts and injury.

60. Rigor
Don’t push the rigor to the extreme.

1. Stay at home – don’t make any move (don’t take any action).

61. Sacrificing captives

Favorable to get followers.

[The second character Fu of the hexagram title was generally translated as sincerity or
trustfulness (Legge and Wilhelm). The true meaning is captives/booty. So the meaning of
the Judgment is: if one wishes to get followers (pigs and fish are, simply, disciples,
followers), one should offer something to attract them.]

2. There’s a call for joining from someone like you (you may trust him).

4. The resistances diminish.

5. You gather others through sacrifices.

62. Small in Excess

Show more interest to details.

63. Already passed

First good luck then bad luck. Secure your enterprise.

1. You should stop.

3. Too much exhaustion like in a war will not benefit the petty (men).

4. Fine clothes will need patches – this is a sign of decay. Caution all day long.

64. Not yet passed

Take care of the crossing, you may lose your target. (A difficult tusk may be ruined if you
don’t show permanence).

6. Being confident but not too much is the lesson here. (Moderation)

More hexagrams/lines will be posted here soon.