I Ching hexagram · 19 of 64
Hexagram 19: Approach 临 Lín · Approach, growth, opportunity
A rising, favourable period. Act while it lasts. Supreme success. Perseverance brings benefit. When the eighth month comes, there will be misfortune.
- Upper: ☷ Earth
- Lower: ☱ Lake
- Nuclear: 24
- Opposite: 33
Number
19 of 64
Chinese name
临 Lín
Upper trigram
☷ Earth
Lower trigram
☱ Lake
Nuclear hexagram
䷗ 24. Return
Opposite hexagram
䷠ 33. Retreat
What hexagram 19 means
Hexagram 19 shows two strong yang lines rising from below, like spring drawing near. It describes a time of growth and advance, when the great approaches the small with care.
Good times are approaching, so make the most of them, but remember that every season turns. The warning about the eighth month means: act wisely while things are in your favour.
The Judgement · 卦辞
临：元亨利贞。至于八月有凶。
Supreme success. Perseverance brings benefit. When the eighth month comes, there will be misfortune.
The Image · 象曰
泽上有地，临；君子以教思无穷，容保民无疆。
The earth above the lake: the image of approach. The noble person never tires of teaching and caring for the people, and is boundless in tolerating and protecting them.
The lines and trigrams
Approach places ☷ Earth (坤 Kūn), the trigram of receptivity and devotion, above ☱ Lake (兑 Duì), the trigram of joy and openness. 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 19 in your life
Love and relationships
Warmth, approachability and growing closeness. A good time to draw nearer, while keeping the relationship grounded for the long term.
Personal growth
Approach people and opportunities with openness and kindness. Use good times to prepare for change.
The six changing lines
If you cast hexagram 19 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 初九 · Nine at the beginning
Joint approach. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 2 九二 · Nine in the second place
Joint approach. Good fortune: everything furthers.
Line 3 六三 · Six in the third place
A sweet but easy approach: nothing that furthers. Once you see the danger and take it seriously, there is no blame.
Line 4 六四 · Six in the fourth place
Complete approach. Open, wholehearted engagement brings no blame.
Line 5 六五 · Six in the fifth place
Wise approach. A leader who chooses capable people and lets them work brings good fortune.
Line 6 上六 · Six at the top
Generous, great-hearted approach. Good fortune, no blame.
Hexagram 19 questions, answered
What does I Ching hexagram 19 mean?
Hexagram 19, Approach (临 Lín), is about approach, growth, opportunity. A rising, favourable period. Act while it lasts. Hexagram 19 shows two strong yang lines rising from below, like spring drawing near. It describes a time of growth and advance, when the great approaches the small with care.
What does hexagram 19 mean in love?
Warmth, approachability and growing closeness. A good time to draw nearer, while keeping the relationship grounded for the long term.
What does hexagram 19 mean for work and money?
Opportunities, promotion and expansion are coming. Move forward energetically and mentor others, but plan for the downturn.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 19?
Hexagram 19 has Earth (Kūn) as its upper trigram and Lake (Duì) as its lower trigram.
What are the related hexagrams of hexagram 19?
Its nuclear hexagram is 24, Return. Its opposite, with every line changed, is 33, Retreat. Turned upside down it becomes 20, Contemplation.
All 64 hexagrams
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