Hexagram 1 of 64 · King Wen order
乾The Creative
Qián · ䷀ · above: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián · below: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián
The hexagram represents the primary creative force of the universe, characterized by strength, duration, and the power of spirit.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
元，亨，利，貞。
Khien (represents) what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and firm.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
1. Vast is the 'great and originating (power)' indicated by Khien! All things owe to it their beginning:—it contains all the meaning belonging to (the name) heaven.
2. The clouds move and the rain is distributed; the various things appear in their developed forms.
3. (The sages) grandly understand (the connexion between) the end and the beginning, and how (the indications of) the six lines (in the hexagram) are accomplished, (each) in its season. (Accordingly) they mount (the carriage) drawn by those six dragons at the proper times, and drive through the sky.
4. The method of Khien is to change and transform, so that everything obtains its correct nature as appointed (by the mind of Heaven); and (thereafter the conditions of) great harmony are preserved in union. The result is 'what is advantageous, and correct and firm.
5. (The sage) appears aloft, high above all things, and the myriad states all enjoy repose.
The Image 象
天行健，君子以自強不息。潛龍勿用，陽在下也。見龍在田，德施普也。終日乾乾，反復道也。或躍在淵，進無咎也。飛龍在天，大人造也。亢龍有悔，盈不可久也。
Heaven, in its motion, (gives the idea of) strength. The superior man, in accordance with this, nerves himself to ceaseless activity.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初九
The first line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
潛龍，勿用。
In the first (or lowest) NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon lying hid (in the deep). It is not the time for active doing.
Small Image: 'The dragon lies hid in the deep;—it is not the time for active doing:'—(this appears from) the strong and undivided line's being in the lowest place.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 44, Coming to Meet.
Line 2 九二
The second line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
見龍在田，利見大人。
In the second NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon appearing in the field. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
Small Image: 'The dragon appears in the field:'—the diffusion of virtuous influence has been wide.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 13, Fellowship with Men.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
君子終日乾乾，夕惕，若厲，無咎。
In the third NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the superior man active and vigilant all the day, and in the evening still careful and apprehensive. (The position is) dangerous, but there will be no mistake.
Small Image: 'Active and vigilant all the day:'—(this refers to) the treading of the (proper) path over and over again.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 10, Treading.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
或躍在淵，無咎。
In the fourth NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as the dragon looking) as if he were leaping up, but still in the deep. There will be no mistake.
Small Image: 'He seems to be leaping up, but is still in the deep:'—if he advance, there will be no error.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 9, The Taming Power of the Small.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
飛龍在天，利見大人。
In the fifth NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon on the wing in the sky. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
Small Image: 'The dragon is on the wing in the sky:'—the great man rouses himself to his work.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 14, Possession in Great Measure.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
亢龍有悔。
In the sixth (or topmost) NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon exceeding the proper limits. There will be occasion for repentance.
Small Image: 'The dragon exceeds the proper limits;—there will be occasion for repentance:'—a state of fullness, that is, should not be indulged in long.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 43, Break-through.
All six lines changing 用九
(The lines of this hexagram are all strong and undivided, as appears from) the use of the number NINE. If the host of dragons (thus) appearing were to divest themselves of their heads, there would be good fortune.
Small Image: Use of Nine: 'The same NINE (undivided) is used' (in all the places of this hexagram), but the attribute of heaven (thereby denoted) should not (always) take the foremost place.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦2. The Receptive 坤
every line changed
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.