易

Chinese wisdom · 易经

I Ching The Book of Changes: 64 hexagrams, 8 trigrams and the hexagram you were born under

The I Ching describes every situation in life with one of 64 hexagrams, each made of six yin or yang lines. For about 3,000 years it has been read for guidance on timing, change and the right attitude to take. Start with the eight trigrams, browse all 64 hexagrams, or find your own birth hexagram. Here is how to get a reading.

64 hexagrams
8 trigrams
384 lines
About 3,000 years old

The I Ching: an introduction and short history

The I Ching, or Yijing (易经), is the Book of Changes, one of the oldest books in the world that is still read today. At its heart are 64 hexagrams, each with a short judgement and a text for every one of its six lines. Its central idea is simple: everything is always changing, and by understanding the pattern of a moment you can respond to it wisely.

According to tradition, the legendary sage Fu Xi drew the eight trigrams, King Wen of Zhou arranged them into the 64 hexagrams around 1050 BCE, and his son, the Duke of Zhou, added the line texts. Historians date the core text, known as the Zhou Yi (周易), to the Western Zhou dynasty, roughly 3,000 years ago, when it was used by diviners at the royal court.

Over the following centuries a set of philosophical commentaries called the Ten Wings turned the oracle into a book of wisdom. It became one of the Confucian classics, shaped Daoist thought, and much later inspired thinkers in the West, from the mathematician Leibniz to the psychologist Carl Jung.

Timeline

c. 1050 BCEKing Wen of Zhou is traditionally said to have arranged the 64 hexagrams.
9th century BCEThe core text, the Zhou Yi, takes shape at the Western Zhou court.
5th–2nd century BCEThe Ten Wings commentaries are written, traditionally credited to Confucius.
168 BCEA silk copy is buried in a tomb at Mawangdui. Rediscovered in 1973, it is one of the oldest surviving versions.
136 BCEEmperor Wu of Han makes the Book of Changes one of the official Five Classics.
11th centuryThe Song scholar Shao Yong develops the Plum Blossom method used for birth hexagrams.
1703Leibniz notices that the hexagrams mirror his new binary number system.
1924 and 1950Richard Wilhelm's German translation appears, then its English edition with a foreword by Carl Jung.

How to get an I Ching reading

There are two ways to get an I Ching reading on BirthDestiny.com. A birth reading is worked out from the moment you were born and describes your nature and the periods of your life. A question reading is cast for a particular question, with three coins at home or with the virtual coins below.

1. Your birth reading (free)

Open the free Birth Destiny calculator.
Enter your date, time and place of birth. The time matters, because your birth hexagram changes every two hours; an approximate time is fine.
Choose male or female. The traditional Heluo Lishu method needs this for your life hexagrams.
Read your birth hexagram with its moving line, its nuclear and changed hexagrams, and your two life hexagrams with the line that rules each period of your life.
Click any hexagram to read its full meaning, and download your report as a PDF.

Get my birth reading

2. A reading for a question

Ask a clear, open question, such as “What should I understand about this new job?” rather than a simple yes or no.
Cast six lines with three coins, or with the online coins below, building the hexagram from the bottom up.
Find your hexagram from its lower and upper trigrams using the chart further down.
Read the changing lines, then turn them over to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards.

Cast a reading now

Cast a reading online

Think of your question, then toss the virtual coins six times. Each toss uses three coins and builds one line, from the bottom up.

Your question (optional)

Line 1 of 6: press “Toss the coins”.

Casting with three coins at home

Take three ordinary coins. Count heads as 3 and tails as 2, toss all three together and add them up. Do this six times. The first toss gives line 1 at the bottom of the hexagram and the sixth gives line 6 at the top.

Coin total	Line	Meaning
6 (three tails)	Old yin, broken and changing	Becomes a solid line in the second hexagram
7 (two tails, one head)	Young yang, solid	Stable
8 (two heads, one tail)	Young yin, broken	Stable
9 (three heads)	Old yang, solid and changing	Becomes a broken line in the second hexagram

A worked example

Six tosses, from the bottom up, give 7, 8, 9, 7, 6, 8. Lines 1 to 3 (solid, broken, solid) make the lower trigram ☲ Fire, and lines 4 to 6 (solid, broken, broken) make the upper trigram ☳ Thunder. Thunder over Fire is hexagram 55, Abundance. Lines 3 and 5 are changing, so read those two line texts first. Turning those two lines over (line 3 becomes broken and line 5 becomes solid) changes the lower trigram to ☳ Thunder and the upper to ☱ Lake. That gives hexagram 17, Following, which shows where the situation is heading.

How to read the answer

The judgement and image

Start with your hexagram's judgement and image. Together they describe the situation as a whole and the attitude that suits it.

The changing lines

Changing lines are the most personal part of the answer. With one or two, read them closely. With many, give more weight to the second hexagram. With none, the situation is stable.

The second hexagram

Turn every changing line into its opposite to find the second hexagram. It shows where things are heading if you follow the advice of the first.

Find your hexagram from its trigrams

Find your lower trigram (lines 1 to 3) in the left column and your upper trigram (lines 4 to 6) along the top. Click the number to open that hexagram.

Lower trigram (rows) and upper trigram (columns)
Lower ↓ · Upper →	Heaven	Lake	Fire	Thunder	Wind	Water	Mountain	Earth
Heaven	1	43	14	34	9	5	26	11
Lake	10	58	38	54	61	60	41	19
Fire	13	49	30	55	37	63	22	36
Thunder	25	17	21	51	42	3	27	24
Wind	44	28	50	32	57	48	18	46
Water	6	47	64	40	59	29	4	7
Mountain	33	31	56	62	53	39	52	15
Earth	12	45	35	16	20	8	23	2

Tips for a good reading. Ask one question at a time, write it down with your answer, and don't keep asking the same question until you get an answer you like: the I Ching itself warns against that in hexagram 4. Readings are for reflection, not a substitute for professional advice.

The eight trigrams

Every hexagram is built from two of these eight three-line figures. Each trigram stands for a force of nature, a family member, an element and a direction, and together they are the I Ching's basic vocabulary.

The elements link to the Chinese zodiac. The same five elements run through your Chinese zodiac element, which is why I Ching readings and Chinese astrology are so often used together.

Yin, yang and the six lines

Yin and yang lines

A solid line is yang: active, firm and outgoing. A broken line is yin: receptive, soft and inward. Every hexagram is a pattern of six of them, read from the bottom up.

Two trigrams make a hexagram

The lower trigram shows the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world. Eight trigrams combined in every possible way give the 64 hexagrams.

Changing lines

A line can be stable or changing. A changing line turns into its opposite, creating a second hexagram that shows where things are heading.

All 64 hexagrams

The hexagrams are listed in the traditional King Wen order, from 1, The Creative, to 64, Before Completion. Each one shows its two trigrams, its theme and its core message. Click a hexagram name to read its full meaning, the judgement and image, and all six changing lines.

No.	Hexagram	Trigrams	Theme and message
1	The Creative 乾 Qián	Heaven over Heaven	Strength, leadership, initiative Pure creative energy. Act with strength, initiative and persistence.
2	The Receptive 坤 Kūn	Earth over Earth	Receptivity, support, endurance Receptive and supportive. Success comes through patience, nurturing and following a sound lead.
3	Difficulty at the Beginning 屯 Zhūn	Water over Thunder	Beginnings, struggle, growth A hard start. Persevere, organise, and gather helpers before pushing ahead.
4	Youthful Folly 蒙 Méng	Mountain over Water	Learning, guidance, discovery Inexperience. Find a good teacher and learn with sincerity rather than pride.
5	Waiting 需 Xū	Water over Heaven	Patience, timing, preparation Wait with confidence. Build your strength until the right moment arrives.
6	Conflict 讼 Sòng	Heaven over Water	Conflict, justice, negotiation Disputes arise. Avoid pushing a quarrel to the end; seek fair mediation.
7	The Army 师 Shī	Earth over Water	Discipline, organisation, command Discipline and organisation. Lead people with clear purpose and fair rules.
8	Holding Together 比 Bǐ	Water over Earth	Union, alliance, belonging Union. Join with the right people and build mutual trust.
9	Small Taming 小畜 Xiǎo Chù	Wind over Heaven	Small restraint, gentle influence Small restraint. Gentle influence brings steady, gradual progress.
10	Treading 履 Lǚ	Heaven over Lake	Conduct, caution, etiquette Careful conduct. Walk lightly and keep good manners in risky situations.
11	Peace 泰 Tài	Earth over Heaven	Peace, prosperity, harmony Harmony and flow. Heaven and earth meet; a time of prosperity.
12	Standstill 否 Pǐ	Heaven over Earth	Stagnation, separation, integrity Stagnation. Communication stalls; keep your integrity and wait it out.
13	Fellowship 同人 Tóng Rén	Heaven over Fire	Fellowship, community, shared vision Fellowship with others. Open, shared goals bring success.
14	Great Possession 大有 Dà Yǒu	Fire over Heaven	Abundance, wealth, influence Great abundance. Hold wealth with modesty and generosity.
15	Modesty 谦 Qiān	Earth over Mountain	Modesty, balance, humility Staying humble brings lasting success and goodwill.
16	Enthusiasm 豫 Yù	Thunder over Earth	Enthusiasm, inspiration, readiness Enthusiasm. Inspire and prepare others, and move in rhythm with the time.
17	Following 随 Suí	Lake over Thunder	Following, adapting, timing Adapt to the times and follow what is worthy.
18	Repairing Decay 蛊 Gǔ	Mountain over Wind	Repair, reform, inheritance Fix what was spoiled, thinking carefully before and after acting.
19	Approach 临 Lín	Earth over Lake	Approach, growth, opportunity A rising, favourable period. Act while it lasts.
20	Contemplation 观 Guān	Wind over Earth	Observation, perspective, example Observe widely, understand deeply and set an example.
21	Biting Through 噬嗑 Shì Hé	Fire over Thunder	Decisiveness, justice, clearing obstacles Remove obstacles decisively and justly.
22	Grace 贲 Bì	Mountain over Fire	Beauty, presentation, culture Beauty and form adorn life, but substance matters more.
23	Splitting Apart 剥 Bō	Mountain over Earth	Erosion, letting go, protecting the base Things erode. Stay still and protect your foundation.
24	Return 复 Fù	Earth over Thunder	Return, renewal, new cycles The turning point. Light returns; begin again.
25	Innocence 无妄 Wú Wàng	Heaven over Thunder	Sincerity, spontaneity, innocence Act sincerely, without scheming or hidden motives.
26	Great Taming 大畜 Dà Chù	Mountain over Heaven	Accumulated strength, knowledge, reserves Store up strength and knowledge, then act boldly.
27	Nourishment 颐 Yí	Mountain over Thunder	Nourishment, care, self-cultivation Watch what you take in and what you give out.
28	Great Exceeding 大过 Dà Guò	Lake over Wind	Great pressure, extraordinary measures The load is too heavy. Unusual times call for unusual measures.
29	The Abysmal (Water) 坎 Kǎn	Water over Water	Danger, depth, persistence Repeated danger. Stay sincere and steady to pass through.
30	The Clinging (Fire) 离 Lí	Fire over Fire	Clarity, brilliance, expression Clarity and brightness. Shine by holding to what is right.
31	Influence 咸 Xián	Lake over Mountain	Attraction, influence, sensitivity Mutual attraction. Influence others through openness.
32	Duration 恒 Héng	Thunder over Wind	Endurance, commitment, constancy Endurance. Stay consistent and keep to a lasting course.
33	Retreat 遁 Dùn	Heaven over Mountain	Retreat, timing, self-preservation Strategic retreat. Withdraw in time to preserve your strength.
34	Great Power 大壮 Dà Zhuàng	Thunder over Heaven	Power, vigour, momentum Great strength. Use it correctly, never recklessly.
35	Progress 晋 Jìn	Fire over Earth	Progress, recognition, promotion Rising recognition. Advance with clear virtue.
36	Darkening of the Light 明夷 Míng Yí	Earth over Fire	Hidden light, resilience, discretion In hard times keep your inner light, and show little outwardly.
37	The Family 家人 Jiā Rén	Wind over Fire	Family, roles, home Order at home and clear roles bring success.
38	Opposition 睽 Kuí	Fire over Lake	Contrast, independence, difference Differences exist, yet small matters still go well.
39	Obstruction 蹇 Jiǎn	Water over Mountain	Obstacles, reflection, finding help Pause, look inward and seek capable help.
40	Deliverance 解 Xiè	Thunder over Water	Release, relief, forgiveness The knot loosens. Forgive and move on quickly.
41	Decrease 损 Sǔn	Mountain over Lake	Decrease, sacrifice, simplicity Reduce excess. Sincere sacrifice now brings later gain.
42	Increase 益 Yì	Wind over Thunder	Increase, benefit, generosity A time of gain. Help others and improve yourself.
43	Breakthrough 夬 Guài	Lake over Heaven	Resolution, breakthrough, honesty Resolve the issue openly and firmly.
44	Coming to Meet 姤 Gòu	Heaven over Wind	Encounter, temptation, influence A powerful influence appears. Be cautious about who you let in.
45	Gathering Together 萃 Cuì	Lake over Earth	Gathering, community, leadership People come together around a shared centre.
46	Pushing Upward 升 Shēng	Earth over Wind	Rising, steady growth, effort Steady growth, step by step, like a tree.
47	Oppression 困 Kùn	Lake over Water	Adversity, exhaustion, inner strength Under pressure. Keep your words few and your spirit firm.
48	The Well 井 Jǐng	Water over Wind	Resource, service, depth An inexhaustible source. Maintain what nourishes everyone.
49	Revolution 革 Gé	Lake over Fire	Change, reform, transformation Change at the right time, with support behind you.
50	The Cauldron 鼎 Dǐng	Fire over Wind	Transformation, culture, nourishment Transformation and nourishment. Cultivate talent.
51	The Arousing (Thunder) 震 Zhèn	Thunder over Thunder	Shock, awakening, action Shock startles. Stay composed and grow from it.
52	Keeping Still 艮 Gèn	Mountain over Mountain	Stillness, focus, boundaries Stop at the right place and calm the restless mind.
53	Gradual Development 渐 Jiàn	Wind over Mountain	Gradual progress, patience, proper process Advance step by step, like a tree on a mountain.
54	The Marrying Maiden 归妹 Guī Mèi	Thunder over Lake	Secondary role, desire, caution Act within your role and avoid forcing outcomes.
55	Abundance 丰 Fēng	Thunder over Fire	Abundance, peak, fullness A peak moment. Enjoy it fully, knowing it will pass.
56	The Wanderer 旅 Lǚ	Fire over Mountain	Travel, transience, adaptability Stay modest and careful when away from home.
57	The Gentle (Wind) 巽 Xùn	Wind over Wind	Gentle penetration, persistence, persuasion Persistent, gentle influence wins over time.
58	The Joyous (Lake) 兑 Duì	Lake over Lake	Joy, communication, exchange Shared pleasure and open exchange strengthen bonds.
59	Dispersion 涣 Huàn	Wind over Water	Dispersal, dissolving, reconnection Dissolve divisions and rigid barriers.
60	Limitation 节 Jié	Water over Lake	Limits, discipline, measure Set sensible limits, neither too strict nor too loose.
61	Inner Truth 中孚 Zhōng Fú	Wind over Lake	Inner truth, sincerity, trust Sincerity can move even the hardest heart.
62	Small Exceeding 小过 Xiǎo Guò	Thunder over Mountain	Small matters, caution, detail Attend to small things; don't aim too high for now.
63	After Completion 既济 Jì Jì	Water over Fire	Completion, order, vigilance Order is achieved. Guard it carefully.
64	Before Completion 未济 Wèi Jì	Fire over Water	Transition, potential, care Almost there. Finish with care.

Your birth hexagram

You don't need coins to find your hexagram. Two classic Chinese methods work it out from the moment you were born.

Plum Blossom · 梅花易数

Developed in the Song dynasty and credited to the scholar Shao Yong, this method turns your lunar birth year, month, day and double hour into one hexagram with a moving line. It describes your nature, and the changed hexagram shows where your path tends to lead.

Heluo Lishu · 河洛理数

This method converts the Four Pillars of your birth into He Tu and Luo Shu numbers to build two life hexagrams. Each line rules six or nine years, giving a reading of your life period by period, from childhood to old age.

Find yours in seconds. The free Birth Destiny calculator works out both from your date, time and place of birth, alongside your star sign, numerology and Chinese zodiac.

I Ching questions, answered

What is the I Ching?

The I Ching (易经, Yì Jīng), or Book of Changes, is one of the oldest Chinese classics. It is built on 64 hexagrams, six-line figures of solid (yang) and broken (yin) lines, each with a name, a short judgement and a text for every line. People have used it for thousands of years as a book of wisdom and as a way to reflect on a question or a turning point.

How old is the I Ching?

The core text, known as the Zhou Yi, dates back about 3,000 years to the Western Zhou dynasty. A set of commentaries called the Ten Wings was added over the following centuries and is traditionally linked to Confucius. Together they make up the I Ching as it is read today.

What is my birth hexagram?

Your birth hexagram is worked out from your date and time of birth rather than from tossed coins. The Plum Blossom method uses your lunar birth date and double hour to find one hexagram and its moving line. Heluo Lishu turns your Four Pillars into two hexagrams that describe the first and second halves of your life, period by period. The free Birth Destiny calculator works out both.

What are changing lines?

When you cast a hexagram, some lines can come out as old yin or old yang. These are changing (moving) lines: they are read individually and then flip to their opposite, giving a second hexagram that shows where the situation is heading.

What is the difference between a trigram and a hexagram?

A trigram has three lines and there are eight of them, such as Heaven, Water and Mountain. A hexagram has six lines and is made of two trigrams stacked on top of each other: the lower one stands for the inner situation and the upper one for the outer world. Eight times eight gives the 64 hexagrams.

Can the I Ching predict the future?

The I Ching is best used as a mirror rather than a fortune teller. It describes the quality of a moment and suggests an attitude to take, so the answer depends on how you apply it. Readings on BirthDestiny.com are for reflection and entertainment, not a substitute for professional advice.

Find your birth hexagram

Enter your date, time and place of birth to see your birth hexagram, your two life hexagrams and what each period of your life brings.

Open the Birth Destiny calculator Chinese zodiac