I Ching Reference
The 64 Hexagrams: Chart & Complete List
Find any hexagram in seconds with the classic trigram lookup chart, or browse all 64 in King Wen order — each with its name, pinyin, and core themes.
I Ching hexagram chart
The chart below is the traditional way to identify a hexagram after casting the coins or yarrow stalks. Every hexagram is a stack of six lines built from two trigrams of three lines each: the lower trigram is your first three lines (cast from the bottom up), and the upper trigram is your last three.
To use it, first find the row on the left that matches your lower trigram — the three lines you cast first. Then move across that row to the column headed by your upper trigram — the three lines you cast last. The cell where row and column intersect shows your hexagram's King Wen number and its line figure; select it to open the full page with its meaning, love and career guidance, and advice.
If you have changing lines in your cast, look up two hexagrams: the primary figure as cast, and the relating figure formed by flipping each changing line to its opposite. The primary hexagram describes your present situation, while the relating one points to where things are heading. New to casting? Try our free I Ching reading tool and it will do the lookup for you.
| Lower ↓Upper → | HeavenQián | LakeDuì | FireLí | ThunderZhèn | WindXùn | WaterKǎn | MountainGèn | EarthKūn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HeavenQián | 1 | |||||||
LakeDuì | ||||||||
FireLí | ||||||||
ThunderZhèn | ||||||||
WindXùn | ||||||||
WaterKǎn | ||||||||
MountainGèn | ||||||||
EarthKūn |
All 64 hexagrams in King Wen order
The complete sequence from Hexagram 1, The Creative, to Hexagram 64, Before Completion. Select any hexagram for its full meaning, love and career interpretations, and advice.
- 1The CreativeQián · initiative, strength, vision
- 2The ReceptiveKūn · receptivity, support, devotion
- 3Difficulty at the BeginningZhūn · birth pains, chaos, perseverance
- 4Youthful FollyMéng · inexperience, learning, guidance
- 5WaitingXū · patience, timing, nourishment
- 6ConflictSòng · dispute, caution, mediation
- 7The ArmyShī · discipline, organization, leadership
- 8Holding TogetherBǐ · union, alliance, belonging
- 9Small TamingXiǎo Chù · restraint, detail, accumulation
- 10TreadingLǚ · conduct, courage, tact
- 11PeaceTài · harmony, prosperity, flow
- 12StandstillPǐ · stagnation, withdrawal, integrity
- 13FellowshipTóng Rén · community, openness, shared goals
- 14Great PossessionDà Yǒu · abundance, clarity, generosity
- 15ModestyQiān · humility, balance, quiet merit
- 16EnthusiasmYù · inspiration, momentum, music
- 17FollowingSuí · adaptation, trust, rest
- 18Repairing the SpoiledGǔ · decay, repair, renewal
- 19ApproachLín · growth, goodwill, window
- 20ContemplationGuān · observation, perspective, example
- 21Biting ThroughShì Kè · justice, obstacle, decisiveness
- 22GraceBì · beauty, form, essence
- 23Splitting ApartBō · erosion, retreat, endurance
- 24ReturnFù · turning point, renewal, rest
- 25InnocenceWú Wàng · sincerity, spontaneity, nature
- 26Great TamingDà Chù · stored power, study, restraint
- 27NourishmentYí · nutrition, words, self-care
- 28Great ExcessDà Guò · overload, extraordinary, courage
- 29The AbysmalKǎn · danger, depth, sincerity
- 30The ClingingLí · clarity, dependence, radiance
- 31InfluenceXián · attraction, courtship, openness
- 32DurationHéng · constancy, endurance, renewal
- 33RetreatDùn · withdrawal, timing, dignity
- 34Great PowerDà Zhuàng · strength, restraint, rightness
- 35ProgressJìn · advance, recognition, clarity
- 36Darkening of the LightMíng Yí · adversity, concealment, inner light
- 37The FamilyJiā Rén · home, roles, warmth
- 38OppositionKuí · estrangement, polarity, small wins
- 39ObstructionJiǎn · impasse, reflection, allies
- 40DeliveranceXiè · release, forgiveness, swiftness
- 41DecreaseSǔn · simplicity, sacrifice, sincerity
- 42IncreaseYì · gain, generosity, momentum
- 43BreakthroughGuài · resolution, exposure, resolve
- 44Coming to MeetGòu · temptation, vigilance, boundaries
- 45Gathering TogetherCuì · assembly, center, preparation
- 46Pushing UpwardShēng · ascent, effort, steady growth
- 47OppressionKùn · exhaustion, scarcity, inner faith
- 48The WellJǐng · source, structure, service
- 49RevolutionGé · change, molting, credibility
- 50The CauldronDǐng · transformation, culture, offering
- 51The ArousingZhèn · shock, awakening, composure
- 52Keeping StillGèn · stillness, meditation, boundaries
- 53DevelopmentJiàn · gradualness, ritual, maturation
- 54The Marrying MaidenGuī Mèi · secondary role, tact, endurance
- 55AbundanceFēng · zenith, fullness, seize the day
- 56The WandererLǚ · travel, prudence, detachment
- 57The GentleXùn · penetration, subtlety, persistence
- 58The JoyousDuì · joy, friendship, encouragement
- 59DispersionHuàn · dissolution, reunion, release
- 60LimitationJié · limits, thrift, measure
- 61Inner TruthZhōng Fú · sincerity, trust, resonance
- 62Small ExcessXiǎo Guò · small things, conscientious, low flight
- 63After CompletionJì Jì · completion, vigilance, details
- 64Before CompletionWèi Jì · threshold, care, hope
Frequently asked questions
- How do I look up a hexagram on the chart?
- Read your six cast lines from the bottom up and split them into two trigrams: lines 1-3 form the lower trigram and lines 4-6 form the upper trigram. Find the row matching your lower trigram on the left of the chart, then move across to the column matching your upper trigram. The cell where they meet is your hexagram — click it for the full meaning.
- What is the King Wen order?
- The King Wen sequence is the traditional arrangement of the 64 hexagrams used in the received text of the I Ching, numbering them 1 (The Creative) through 64 (Before Completion). Hexagrams are paired — most pairs are inversions of each other — and the sequence is attributed to King Wen of Zhou, who is traditionally credited with arranging the hexagrams and writing their judgments.
- How many hexagrams are there in the I Ching?
- There are exactly 64 hexagrams. Each hexagram is a stack of six lines, and each line is either yang (solid) or yin (broken), giving 2 to the power of 6 — 64 — possible figures. Every one has a name, a judgment, and line texts of its own.
- What are trigrams?
- Trigrams are figures of three stacked lines, each line yang or yin, giving eight possible trigrams: Heaven, Lake, Fire, Thunder, Wind, Water, Mountain, and Earth. Every hexagram is built from two trigrams — a lower (inner) trigram and an upper (outer) trigram — and the interaction of their natures is a key layer of each hexagram's meaning.