ENGLISH RECORD 46
Yijing · Book of Changes
Ancient textual layers and commentaries survive; methods of casting and interpreting hexagrams developed over time.01 · WHAT IT IS
Overview
The I Ching provides judgments and images for changing situations rather than a fixed list of future events.
02 · ORIGINAL TEXT AND EARLIEST SOURCE
What can be traced?
03 · HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The world behind the text
21 · CLASSIC OF CHANGE DOSSIER
Yijing · Book of Changes
Not an answer key to the future, but a language of changing relations
The Yijing is not a simple prophecy book written by one author at one moment. Its ancient hexagram and line statements, the Ten Wings, and commentaries by Wang Bi, Cheng Yi, Zhu Xi and others form distinct layers. This dossier keeps divination, philosophy, cosmology and modern prediction claims apart.00 · HEXAGRAM ATLAS
Explore all 64 hexagrams
All 64 · The short labels are study cues, not oracular verdicts.䷀01 · Qián乾 · Creativeheaven · initiative · strength
Hexagram 1, Qián (乾), frames heaven · initiative · strength. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷁02 · Kūn坤 · Receptiveearth · receptivity · support
Hexagram 2, Kūn (坤), frames earth · receptivity · support. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷂03 · Zhūn屯 · Beginningdifficulty at the beginning
Hexagram 3, Zhūn (屯), frames difficulty at the beginning. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷃04 · Méng蒙 · Youthful Follylearning · inexperience
Hexagram 4, Méng (蒙), frames learning · inexperience. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷄05 · Xū需 · Waitingwaiting · preparation
Hexagram 5, Xū (需), frames waiting · preparation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷅06 · Sòng訟 · Conflictconflict · restraint
Hexagram 6, Sòng (訟), frames conflict · restraint. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷆07 · Shī師 · Armyorganisation · discipline
Hexagram 7, Shī (師), frames organisation · discipline. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷇08 · Bǐ比 · Holding Togetheralliance · belonging
Hexagram 8, Bǐ (比), frames alliance · belonging. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷈09 · Xiǎoxù小畜 · Small Tamingsmall accumulation
Hexagram 9, Xiǎoxù (小畜), frames small accumulation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷉10 · Lǚ履 · Treadingcareful conduct
Hexagram 10, Lǚ (履), frames careful conduct. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷊11 · Tài泰 · Peaceflow · prosperity
Hexagram 11, Tài (泰), frames flow · prosperity. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷋12 · Pǐ否 · Obstructionstagnation · blockage
Hexagram 12, Pǐ (否), frames stagnation · blockage. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷌13 · Tóngrén同人 · Fellowshipfellowship · shared purpose
Hexagram 13, Tóngrén (同人), frames fellowship · shared purpose. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷍14 · Dàyǒu大有 · Great Possessionabundance · responsibility
Hexagram 14, Dàyǒu (大有), frames abundance · responsibility. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷎15 · Qiān謙 · Modestymodesty · balance
Hexagram 15, Qiān (謙), frames modesty · balance. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷏16 · Yù豫 · Enthusiasmenthusiasm · readiness
Hexagram 16, Yù (豫), frames enthusiasm · readiness. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷐17 · Suí隨 · Followingfollowing · adaptation
Hexagram 17, Suí (隨), frames following · adaptation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷑18 · Gǔ蠱 · Repairing Decayrepairing what has decayed
Hexagram 18, Gǔ (蠱), frames repairing what has decayed. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷒19 · Lín臨 · Approachapproach · oversight
Hexagram 19, Lín (臨), frames approach · oversight. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷓20 · Guān觀 · Contemplationobservation · reflection
Hexagram 20, Guān (觀), frames observation · reflection. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷔21 · Shìkè噬嗑 · Biting Throughdecisive removal
Hexagram 21, Shìkè (噬嗑), frames decisive removal. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷕22 · Bì賁 · Graceform · grace
Hexagram 22, Bì (賁), frames form · grace. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷖23 · Bō剝 · Splitting Aparterosion · decline
Hexagram 23, Bō (剝), frames erosion · decline. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷗24 · Fù復 · Returnreturn · recovery
Hexagram 24, Fù (復), frames return · recovery. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷘25 · Wúwàng無妄 · Innocencesincerity · the unexpected
Hexagram 25, Wúwàng (無妄), frames sincerity · the unexpected. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷙26 · Dàxù大畜 · Great Taminggreat accumulation
Hexagram 26, Dàxù (大畜), frames great accumulation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷚27 · Yí頤 · Nourishmentnourishment · speech
Hexagram 27, Yí (頤), frames nourishment · speech. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷛28 · Dàguò大過 · Great Exceedingcritical excess
Hexagram 28, Dàguò (大過), frames critical excess. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷜29 · Kǎn坎 · Abysmal Waterrepeated danger
Hexagram 29, Kǎn (坎), frames repeated danger. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷝30 · Lí離 · Clinging Fireclarity · attachment
Hexagram 30, Lí (離), frames clarity · attachment. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷞31 · Xián咸 · Influenceinfluence · attraction
Hexagram 31, Xián (咸), frames influence · attraction. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷟32 · Héng恆 · Durationduration · constancy
Hexagram 32, Héng (恆), frames duration · constancy. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷠33 · Dùn遯 · Retreatretreat · preservation
Hexagram 33, Dùn (遯), frames retreat · preservation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷡34 · Dàzhuàng大壯 · Great Powergreat power · restraint
Hexagram 34, Dàzhuàng (大壯), frames great power · restraint. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷢35 · Jìn晉 · Progressprogress · daylight
Hexagram 35, Jìn (晉), frames progress · daylight. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷣36 · Míngyí明夷 · Darkening of Lightlight obscured
Hexagram 36, Míngyí (明夷), frames light obscured. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷤37 · Jiārén家人 · Familyfamily · roles
Hexagram 37, Jiārén (家人), frames family · roles. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷥38 · Kuí睽 · Oppositionopposition · difference
Hexagram 38, Kuí (睽), frames opposition · difference. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷦39 · Jiǎn蹇 · Obstructiondifficulty · detour
Hexagram 39, Jiǎn (蹇), frames difficulty · detour. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷧40 · Xiè解 · Releaserelease · relief
Hexagram 40, Xiè (解), frames release · relief. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷨41 · Sǔn損 · Decreasedecrease · restraint
Hexagram 41, Sǔn (損), frames decrease · restraint. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷩42 · Yì益 · Increaseincrease · benefit
Hexagram 42, Yì (益), frames increase · benefit. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷪43 · Guài夬 · Breakthroughbreakthrough · declaration
Hexagram 43, Guài (夬), frames breakthrough · declaration. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷫44 · Gòu姤 · Coming to Meetunexpected encounter
Hexagram 44, Gòu (姤), frames unexpected encounter. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷬45 · Cuì萃 · Gatheringgathering · convergence
Hexagram 45, Cuì (萃), frames gathering · convergence. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷭46 · Shēng升 · Pushing Upwardgradual ascent
Hexagram 46, Shēng (升), frames gradual ascent. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷮47 · Kùn困 · Oppressionconstraint · endurance
Hexagram 47, Kùn (困), frames constraint · endurance. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷯48 · Jǐng井 · Wellshared resource · foundation
Hexagram 48, Jǐng (井), frames shared resource · foundation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷰49 · Gé革 · Revolutionchange · right timing
Hexagram 49, Gé (革), frames change · right timing. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷱50 · Dǐng鼎 · Cauldronrenewal · cultivation
Hexagram 50, Dǐng (鼎), frames renewal · cultivation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷲51 · Zhèn震 · Thundershock · awakening
Hexagram 51, Zhèn (震), frames shock · awakening. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷳52 · Gèn艮 · Mountainstillness · boundary
Hexagram 52, Gèn (艮), frames stillness · boundary. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷴53 · Jiàn漸 · Developmentgradual development
Hexagram 53, Jiàn (漸), frames gradual development. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷵54 · Guīmèi歸妹 · Marrying Maidenunequal position · relation
Hexagram 54, Guīmèi (歸妹), frames unequal position · relation. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷶55 · Fēng豐 · Abundanceabundance · zenith
Hexagram 55, Fēng (豐), frames abundance · zenith. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷷56 · Lǚ旅 · Travellertravelling · impermanence
Hexagram 56, Lǚ (旅), frames travelling · impermanence. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷸57 · Xùn巽 · Windgentle penetration
Hexagram 57, Xùn (巽), frames gentle penetration. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷹58 · Duì兌 · Lakejoy · exchange
Hexagram 58, Duì (兌), frames joy · exchange. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷺59 · Huàn渙 · Dispersiondispersion · dissolution
Hexagram 59, Huàn (渙), frames dispersion · dissolution. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷻60 · Jié節 · Limitationlimits · measure
Hexagram 60, Jié (節), frames limits · measure. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷼61 · Zhōngfú中孚 · Inner Truthinner truth · trust
Hexagram 61, Zhōngfú (中孚), frames inner truth · trust. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷽62 · Xiǎoguò小過 · Small Exceedingsmall excess · care
Hexagram 62, Xiǎoguò (小過), frames small excess · care. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷾63 · Jìjì既濟 · After Completionafter completion
Hexagram 63, Jìjì (既濟), frames after completion. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
䷿64 · Wèijì未濟 · Before Completionbefore completion
Hexagram 64, Wèijì (未濟), frames before completion. Any reading still requires its statement, relevant lines and the question context.
01 · READING ANATOMY
Two kinds of line occupy six positions
Lines are read from bottom to top. Three lines form a trigram; a lower and upper trigram combine into a six-line hexagram.☵Lower trigram · lines 1–3
Moving lines can mark a transition to another hexagram, but application rules differ among methods and traditions.
The eight trigrams are natural images and a vocabulary of relations
02 · SIX CLOSE READINGS
Begin six representative hexagrams with the received text
01 Qian · 乾
元亨利貞Four qualities often read as origination, success, benefit and constancy.
02 Kun · 坤
元亨，利牝馬之貞Receptive, nurturing power is compared to the constancy of a mare.
11 Tai · 泰
小往大來，吉亨The small departs and the great arrives; upper and lower communicate.
12 Pi · 否
否之匪人，不利君子貞，大往小來A condition of blockage and failed communication.
63 Jiji · 既濟
亨小，利貞，初吉終亂Even after crossing, an auspicious beginning can end in disorder.
64 Weiji · 未濟
亨，小狐汔濟，濡其尾，無攸利A young fox wets its tail just before completing the crossing.
03 · TEXTUAL LAYERS
‘The Yijing text’ contains different kinds of book
Names, hexagram statements and line statements
Early divinatory and decision layer
Do not assign the whole layer to one certain author.Tuan, Xiang, Xici, Wenyan and other commentaries
Ethical, political and cosmological expansion
Separate traditional Confucius attribution from modern scholarship.Third-century commentary
Privileges meaning and principle over proliferating number-symbol systems
Deep influence on the received editionEleventh–twelfth century readings
Reframe moral principle and divinatory use in different ways
Major influence on East Asian learningMawangdui silk manuscript and others
Preserve sequences and characters unlike the received text
Challenge the idea of one fixed original04 · DOCUMENT HISTORY
Separate transmission legend from document history
- Fuxi, King Wen, Duke of Zhou, ConfuciusA cultural genealogy of figures and words; exact authorship remains unconfirmed.
- Formation of the Zhouyi coreDating is debated; multiple strata of divinatory record and editing accumulated.
- Ten Wings and canonisationA divination manual expands into a classic of philosophy, politics and cosmos.
- Wang BiMeaning-centred commentary becomes a pillar of received interpretation.
- Cheng YiThe Yichuan develops moral, political and self-cultivation readings.
- Zhu XiThe Zhouyi Benyi combines attention to divination with Neo-Confucian reading.
- Mawangdui copy buriedExcavated in 1973, the Han manuscript preserves a different sequence and variants.
- Philology, philosophy and practice coexistExcavated-text research and personal divination do not carry the same evidential status.
05 · INTERPRETIVE SCHOOLS
Different lenses produce different readings
| Lens | Primary focus | Strength | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image-number | Images, numbers, positions and correspondences | Fine-grained structural reading | Beware direct leaps from numbers to modern event dates |
| Meaning-principle | Moral, political and practical meaning | Explores conduct and cultivation | Can project later ethics onto earlier statements |
| Philology · manuscripts | Words, rhyme, editions and institutions | Reconstructs early meanings and layers | Does not itself provide a life-answer system |
| Modern divination | Applies questions, cast figures and moving lines | May organise reflection and choices | Interpreter discretion is large; reproducibility is low |
06 · DIVINATION RECORD
A repeatable casting procedure is not the same as a certain interpretation
Yarrow-stalk practice draws on the Great Treatise tradition and repeats a complex manipulation of stalks. The simpler three-coin method is a later tradition. For either method, record the question, time, primary figure, moving lines, resulting figure and interpretive rules before the outcome.Fix the question
State the choice, conditions and period rather than only ‘When will I succeed?’
Record the method
Name yarrow, coins or another method and its number mapping.
Bottom to top
Write the first through top line in order.
Text first
Read the hexagram statement and relevant line text in context.
Separate figures
Preserve the primary, moving lines and resulting hexagram.
Review outcome
Keep the initial reading beside the result; do not rewrite it after events.
07 · PROPHECY BOUNDARY
What kind of prediction can the Yijing support?
Classical function
A framework for considering relation, position and action amid change
Supported by text and commentarial historyIndividual divination
Applying a cast figure to one question
Recordable, but interpretation is highly mediatedDynastic timeline
Placing 64 figures across history or future years
A later system, not a timeline in the core ZhouyiDisaster dates
Claims that a figure fixes an earthquake, war or crash date
Unverifiable without pre-event text, reading, window and failure ruleIdentity with science
Claims that quantum theory, DNA or binary code was fully present
Formal resemblance is not historical causal evidence08 · SALGIL VERDICT
Once its layers are separated, difficulty need not become mystification
The Yijing combines divinatory statements, diagrams of change, and long histories of ethical and cosmological commentary. Its cultural and philosophical value is immense; a capacity to predict specific events requires separate evidence. SALGIL checks the edition, question, casting method, pre-event reading and failure condition before calling a hexagram a hit.09 · SOURCES