I Ching hexagram · 16 of 64
Hexagram 16: Enthusiasm 豫 Yù · Enthusiasm, inspiration, readiness
Enthusiasm. Inspire and prepare others, and move in rhythm with the time. It helps to appoint helpers and to set armies marching.
- Upper: ☳ Thunder
- Lower: ☷ Earth
- Nuclear: 39
- Opposite: 9
Number
16 of 64
Chinese name
豫 Yù
Upper trigram
☳ Thunder
Lower trigram
☷ Earth
Nuclear hexagram
䷦ 39. Obstruction
Opposite hexagram
䷈ 9. Small Taming
What hexagram 16 means
Hexagram 16 shows thunder bursting from the earth in spring. It describes enthusiasm, inspiration and the energy that moves people to act together.
Enthusiasm succeeds when it is in tune with the mood of the time and of the people. Music, inspiration and a shared vision make others want to follow, but beware of complacency and self-indulgence.
The Judgement · 卦辞
豫：利建侯行师。
It helps to appoint helpers and to set armies marching.
The Image · 象曰
雷出地奋，豫；先王以作乐崇德，殷荐之上帝，以配祖考。
Thunder comes resounding out of the earth: the image of enthusiasm. The ancient kings made music to honour merit and offered it to the Supreme Deity and to their ancestors.
The lines and trigrams
Enthusiasm places ☳ Thunder (震 Zhèn), the trigram of movement and arousal, above ☷ Earth (坤 Kūn), the trigram of receptivity and devotion. The lower trigram describes the inner situation and the upper trigram the outer world.
A hexagram is read from the bottom line up. Lines 1 to 3 form the lower trigram and lines 4 to 6 the upper trigram. Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; in the traditional names a yang line is called Nine (九) and a yin line Six (六).
Hexagram 16 in your life
Love and relationships
Joy, excitement and shared fun bring you closer. Keep the enthusiasm grounded in real feeling rather than a passing thrill.
Personal growth
Find what genuinely excites you, and let that energy carry you into action.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 16 and some lines come out as changing lines, read the text for those lines, then turn each one into its opposite to find the hexagram your situation is moving towards. See how to consult the I Ching.
Line 1 初六 · Six at the beginning
Enthusiasm that boasts about itself. Misfortune.
Line 2 六二 · Six in the second place
Firm as a rock, and not for a whole day: seeing the signs early and acting on them brings good fortune.
Line 3 六三 · Six in the third place
Enthusiasm that looks up to others for approval brings regret, and so does hesitation. Rely on yourself.
Line 4 九四 · Nine in the fourth place
The source of enthusiasm. Great things are achieved; don't doubt, and friends gather around you.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
Persistently ill, but not dying. Constant pressure keeps you from sinking into complacency.
Line 6 上六 · Six at the top
Deluded enthusiasm. If you change course even now, there is no blame.
Hexagram 16 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 16 mean?
Hexagram 16, Enthusiasm (豫 Yù), is about enthusiasm, inspiration, readiness. Enthusiasm. Inspire and prepare others, and move in rhythm with the time. Hexagram 16 shows thunder bursting from the earth in spring. It describes enthusiasm, inspiration and the energy that moves people to act together.
What does hexagram 16 mean in love?
Joy, excitement and shared fun bring you closer. Keep the enthusiasm grounded in real feeling rather than a passing thrill.
What does hexagram 16 mean for work and money?
A good moment to launch, rally a team or promote an idea. Prepare well and inspire people, but don't get carried away.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 16?
Hexagram 16 has Thunder (Zhèn) as its upper trigram and Earth (Kūn) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 16?
Its nuclear hexagram is 39, Obstruction. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 9, Small Taming. Turned upside down it becomes 15, Modesty.
All 64 hexagrams
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