The sixty-four hexagrams
The first canon, thirty hexagrams from Qian and Kun to Kan and Li, is the way of heaven. The second, thirty-four from Xian and Heng to the two Ji, is the human world.
Upper canon
1–3001
乾
The Creative
Ceaseless vigor, moving with the time
Ceaseless vigor, moving with the time
02
坤
The Receptive
Follow heaven’s lead; carry all with generous virtue
Follow heaven’s lead; carry all with generous virtue
03
屯
Difficult Beginnings
Hard beginnings: settle within before venturing out
Hard beginnings: settle within before venturing out
04
蒙
Youthful Ignorance
Nurture what is right while the mind is young
Nurture what is right while the mind is young
05
需
Waiting
Waiting well, to go farther
Waiting well, to go farther
06
訟
Dispute
Settle midway; fight to the end and lose
Settle midway; fight to the end and lose
07
師
The Army
Discipline, a just cause, the right commander
Discipline, a just cause, the right commander
08
比
Holding Together
Draw close sincerely, and in good time
Draw close sincerely, and in good time
09
小畜
Small Accumulation
Clouds gather; store strength, refine virtue
Clouds gather; store strength, refine virtue
10
履
Treading
Walk by propriety, even on the tiger's tail
Walk by propriety, even on the tiger's tail
11
泰
Peace
When above and below meet, all things flow
When above and below meet, all things flow
12
否
Standstill
In blocked times, draw in and cultivate virtue
In blocked times, draw in and cultivate virtue
13
同人
Fellowship
Gathering people openly, without private aims
Gathering people openly, without private aims
14
大有
Great Abundance
Abundance kept by restraint and goodness
Abundance kept by restraint and goodness
15
謙
Humility
Real strength, carried low, reaches a good end
Real strength, carried low, reaches a good end
16
豫
Delight and Readiness
Joy that moves with the times, yet stays prepared
Joy that moves with the times, yet stays prepared
17
隨
Following
Follow the times, choose well, then let go
Follow the times, choose well, then let go
18
蠱
Repairing Decay
Repair what was inherited; end, then begin anew
Repair what was inherited; end, then begin anew
19
臨
Approach
Strength is rising: remember the ebb
Strength is rising: remember the ebb
20
觀
Contemplation
See yourself in the lives of others
See yourself in the lives of others
21
噬嗑
Biting Through
Bite through the obstacle; justice unites hearts
Bite through the obstacle; justice unites hearts
22
賁
Adornment
Ornament reveals substance; plain white is highest
Ornament reveals substance; plain white is highest
23
剝
Stripping Away
Yield to the tide, keep the last fruit
Yield to the tide, keep the last fruit
24
復
Return
One yang returns: the heart of Heaven and Earth
One yang returns: the heart of Heaven and Earth
25
无妄
Without Falseness
Be genuine; move only when the time is right
Be genuine; move only when the time is right
26
大畜
Great Accumulation
Stop, store up virtue, then go far
Stop, store up virtue, then go far
27
頤
Nourishment
Nourish rightly; guard what passes the mouth
Nourish rightly; guard what passes the mouth
28
大過
Great Excess
When the ridgepole sags, stand firm without fear
When the ridgepole sags, stand firm without fear
29
坎
The Abyss, Doubled
Practise danger until you walk it calmly
Practise danger until you walk it calmly
30
離
Clinging Radiance
Cling to what is right; let the light continue
Cling to what is right; let the light continue
Lower canon
31–6431
咸
Mutual Feeling
Feeling is good when it stays upright
Feeling is good when it stays upright
32
恒
Constancy
Hold the way, and never stop moving
Hold the way, and never stop moving
33
遯
Retreat
Withdraw in time, and the way goes on
Withdraw in time, and the way goes on
34
大壯
Great Strength
At full strength, keep upright and know when to stop
At full strength, keep upright and know when to stop
35
晉
Advancing
The sun rises; let your own virtue shine
The sun rises; let your own virtue shine
36
明夷
Darkening of the Light
Light buried: hide it, keep it alive
Light buried: hide it, keep it alive
37
家人
The Family
Each in place; a sound home steadies the world
Each in place; a sound home steadies the world
38
睽
Estrangement
Apart, yet able to meet: common ground, respected differences
Apart, yet able to meet: common ground, respected differences
39
蹇
Obstruction
See the danger, stop, and turn inward
See the danger, stop, and turn inward
40
解
Release
The knot loosens: forgive, and act in time
The knot loosens: forgive, and act in time
41
損
Decrease
Give of yourself, sincerely and in measure
Give of yourself, sincerely and in measure
42
益
Increase
Those above give, and the people flourish
Those above give, and the people flourish
43
夬
Breakthrough
Resolve firmly, act gently, clear the last obstacle
Resolve firmly, act gently, clear the last obstacle
44
姤
Encounter
Welcome the meeting, but restrain what rises early
Welcome the meeting, but restrain what rises early
45
萃
Gathering
Gather in sincerity around the rightful center
Gather in sincerity around the rightful center
46
升
Rising
Rise steadily, accumulating the small into the great
Rise steadily, accumulating the small into the great
47
困
Confinement
The body confined, the mind still free
The body confined, the mind still free
48
井
The Well
Endless nourishment, finished to the last step
Endless nourishment, finished to the last step
49
革
Revolution
Change when the time and trust are ripe
Change when the time and trust are ripe
50
鼎
The Cauldron
Make it new; stand rightly, fulfil the charge
Make it new; stand rightly, fulfil the charge
51
震
Thunder
Composure amid shock; fear turned into self-examination
Composure amid shock; fear turned into self-examination
52
艮
Keeping Still
Stop and move, each at its proper time
Stop and move, each at its proper time
53
漸
Gradual Progress
Advance step by step, in proper order
Advance step by step, in proper order
54
歸妹
The Marrying Maiden
In life's great passages, keep your place and wait
In life's great passages, keep your place and wait
55
豐
Abundance
Fullness at noon, kept bright by selflessness
Fullness at noon, kept bright by selflessness
56
旅
The Traveler
Life is a journey: walk it humbly and upright
Life is a journey: walk it humbly and upright
57
巽
The Penetrating Wind
Enter like the wind; yield, but keep your centre
Enter like the wind; yield, but keep your centre
58
兌
Joy
Joy rooted in sincerity, shared with friends
Joy rooted in sincerity, shared with friends
59
渙
Dispersion
Scatter the narrow, regather on larger ground
Scatter the narrow, regather on larger ground
60
節
Measured Restraint
Restraint that fits the measure is sweet and lasting
Restraint that fits the measure is sweet and lasting
61
中孚
Inner Truth
A heart solid yet open; trust that reaches all
A heart solid yet open; trust that reaches all
62
小過
Small Exceeding
Exceed a little, in small things; fly low
Exceed a little, in small things; fly low
63
既濟
Already Across
The moment of completion calls for vigilance
The moment of completion calls for vigilance
64
未濟
Not Yet Across
Unfinished, and therefore still open
Unfinished, and therefore still open