The Hexagrams in Contrast

Qian (Heaven) is firm, Kun (Earth) yielding. Bi (Holding Together) rejoices; Shi (The Army) worries.

In Lin (Approach) and Guan (Contemplation), one either gives or seeks.

Zhun (Difficulty at the Beginning) comes into view without losing its dwelling; Meng (Youthful Folly) is confused yet becomes manifest.

Zhen (Thunder) rises; Gen (Mountain) stops.

Sun (Decrease) and Yi (Increase) mark the beginnings of prosperity and decline.

Da Xu (Great Taming) concerns the time; Wu Wang (Innocence) concerns calamity.

Cui (Gathering Together) gathers; Sheng (Ascending) does not return.

Qian (Modesty) makes light of itself; Yu (Enthusiasm) grows slack.

Shi Ke (Biting Through) is eating; Bi (Adornment) is without color.

Dui (Lake) appears; Xun (Wind/Wood) hides.

Sui (Following) has no cause; Gu (Repairing Decay) puts things in order.

Bo (Stripping Away) decays; Fu (Return) turns back.

Jin (Progress) is daylight; Ming Yi (Darkening of the Light) is injury.

Jing (The Well) opens a way; Kun (Oppression) is an encounter.

Xian (Influence) is swift; Heng (Duration) is lasting.

Huan (Dispersion) separates; Jie (Limitation) stops.

Xie (Deliverance) eases; Jian (Obstruction) brings difficulty.

Kui (Opposition) is outside; Jia Ren (The Family) is inside.

Pi (Stagnation) and Tai (Peace) stand opposed to one another.

Da Zhuang (Great Power) stops; Dun (Retreat) withdraws.

Da You (Great Possession) has multitudes; Tong Ren (Fellowship with Others) is close kinship.

Ge (Revolution) casts away the old; Ding (The Cauldron) takes up the new.

Xiao Guo (Small Excess) goes beyond; Zhong Fu (Inner Trust) is sincere.

Feng (Abundance) has many affairs; Lu (The Traveler) has few loved ones.

Li (Fire) rises; Kan (Water) descends.

Xiao Xu (Small Taming) has little; Lu (Treading) does not stay still.

Xu (Waiting) does not advance; Song (Conflict) is not close.

Da Guo (Great Excess) overturns; Gou (Coming to Meet) is an encounter: the yielding meets the firm.

In Jian (Gradual Progress), a woman awaiting marriage waits for the man to act. Yi (Nourishment) nourishes what is right; Ji-ji (After Completion) settles matters.

Gui Mei (The Marrying Maiden) is the woman's end; Wei Ji (Before Completion) is the man's impasse.

Guai (Breakthrough) is decision: the firm decides against the yielding. The noble person's way grows; the petty person's way wanes.

Qian is firm; Kun yielding. Bi rejoices; Shi worries. Lin and Guan either give or seek. Zhun comes into view without losing its dwelling; Meng is immature yet becomes manifest. Zhen rises; Gen stops. Sun and Yi begin prosperity and decline. Da Xu concerns the time; Wu Wang concerns calamity. Cui gathers; Sheng does not return. Qian makes light of itself; Yu grows slack. Shi Ke is eating; Bi has no color. Dui appears; Xun hides. Sui has no affairs; Gu puts things in order. Bo decays; Fu turns back. Jin is daylight; Ming Yi is injury. Jing opens a way; Kun is an encounter. Xian is swift; Heng is lasting. Huan separates; Jie stops. Xie eases; Jian brings difficulty. Kui is outside; Jia Ren is inside. Pi and Tai stand opposed to one another. Da Zhuang stops; Dun withdraws. Da You has multitudes; Tong Ren is kinship. Ge casts away the old; Ding takes up the new. Xiao Guo goes beyond; Zhong Fu is sincere. Feng has many affairs; Lu has few loved ones. Li rises; Kan descends. Xiao Xu has little; Lu does not stay still. Xu does not advance; Song is not close. Da Guo overturns; Gou is an encounter: the yielding meets the firm. In Jian a woman awaiting marriage waits for the man to act; Yi nourishes what is right; Ji-ji settles matters. Gui Mei is the woman's end; Wei Ji is the man's impasse. Guai is decision: the firm decides against the yielding. The noble person's way grows; the petty person's way is troubled.

Qian (Heaven) is firm; Kun (Earth) is yielding. Bi (Holding Together) is joyful; Shi (The Army) is worried.

The meanings of Lin (Approach) and Guan (Contemplation) are giving in one case and seeking in the other.

Zhun (Difficulty at the Beginning) appears but does not lose its place; Meng (Youthful Folly) is mixed up but becomes clear.

Zhen (Thunder) rises; Gen (Mountain) stops.

Sun (Decrease) and Yi (Increase) mark the beginnings of growth and decline.

Da Xu (Great Taming) concerns the right time; Wu Wang (Without Error) concerns disaster.

Cui (Gathering) gathers; Sheng (Rising) does not come back.

Qian (Modesty) takes things lightly; Yu (Enthusiasm) is careless.

Shi He (Biting Through) concerns eating; Bi (Adornment) has no color.

Dui (Lake) appears; Xun (Wind) stays hidden.

Sui (Following) has no affair to attend to; Gu (Repairing What Has Spoiled) puts things in order.

Bo (Stripping Away) decays; Fu (Return) comes back.

Jin (Progress) is daylight; Ming Yi (Darkening of the Light) is injury.

Jing (The Well) opens a way; Kun (Exhaustion) brings things into contact.

Xian (Influence) is quick; Heng (Duration) lasts long.

Huan (Dispersion) separates; Jie (Limits) stops.

Xie (Release) eases; Jian (Obstruction) is difficult.

Kui (Opposition) concerns what is outside; Jia Ren (The Family), what is inside.

Pi (Standstill) and Tai (Peace) are opposites in kind.

Da Zhuang (Great Strength) stops; Dun (Retreat) withdraws.

Da You (Great Possession) has many people; Tong Ren (Fellowship with Others) brings them close.

Ge (Change) removes the old; Ding (The Cauldron) takes up the new.

Xiao Guo (Small Excess) exceeds the limit; Zhong Fu (Inner Sincerity) means trust.

Feng (Abundance) has many affairs; Lü (The Traveler) has few close relations.

Li (Fire) goes upward; Kan (Water) goes downward.

Xiao Xu (Small Taming) has little; Lü (Conduct) does not stay put.

Xu (Waiting) does not move ahead; Song (Conflict) has no closeness.

Da Guo (Great Excess) overturns; Gou (Coming to Meet) means an encounter, when the yielding meets the firm.

In Jian (Gradual Progress), a woman marrying waits for the man to act. Yi (Nourishment) nourishes what is right. Jiji (Already Across) is settled.

Gui Mei (The Marrying Maiden) is the woman's end; Wei Ji (Not Yet Across) is the man's impasse.

Guai (Breakthrough) means deciding: the firm decides against the yielding. The noble person's way grows; the petty person's way fades.

Qian (Heaven) is firm; Kun (Earth) is yielding. Bi (Holding Together) is joyful; Shi (The Army) is worried. The meanings of Lin (Approach) and Guan (Contemplation) are giving in one case and seeking in the other. Zhun (Difficulty at the Beginning) appears but does not lose its place. Meng (Youthful Folly) is immature but becomes clear. Zhen (Thunder) rises; Gen (Mountain) stops. Sun (Decrease) and Yi (Increase) mark the beginnings of growth and decline. Da Xu (Great Taming) concerns the right time; Wu Wang (Without Error) concerns disaster. Cui (Gathering) gathers; Sheng (Rising) does not come back. Qian (Modesty) takes things lightly; Yu (Enthusiasm) is careless. Shi He (Biting Through) concerns eating; Bi (Adornment) has no color. Dui (Lake) appears; Xun (Wind) stays hidden. Sui (Following) has no affair to attend to; Gu (Repairing What Has Spoiled) puts things in order. Bo (Stripping Away) decays; Fu (Return) comes back. Jin (Progress) is daylight; Ming Yi (Darkening of the Light) is injury. Jing (The Well) opens a way; Kun (Exhaustion) brings things into contact. Xian (Influence) is quick; Heng (Duration) lasts long. Huan (Dispersion) separates; Jie (Limits) stops. Xie (Release) eases; Jian (Obstruction) is difficult. Kui (Opposition) concerns what is outside; Jia Ren (The Family), what is inside. Pi (Standstill) and Tai (Peace) are opposites in kind. Da Zhuang (Great Strength) stops; Dun (Retreat) withdraws. Da You (Great Possession) has many people; Tong Ren (Fellowship with Others) brings them close. Ge (Change) removes the old; Ding (The Cauldron) takes up the new. Xiao Guo (Small Excess) exceeds the limit; Zhong Fu (Inner Sincerity) means trust. Feng (Abundance) has many affairs; Lü (The Traveler) has few close relations. Li (Fire) goes upward; Kan (Water) goes downward. Xiao Xu (Small Taming) has little; Lü (Conduct) does not stay put. Xu (Waiting) does not move ahead; Song (Conflict) has no closeness. Da Guo (Great Excess) overturns; Gou (Coming to Meet) means an encounter, when the yielding meets the firm. In Jian (Gradual Progress), a woman marrying waits for the man to act. Yi (Nourishment) nourishes what is right. Jiji (Already Across) is settled. Gui Mei (The Marrying Maiden) is the woman's end; Wei Ji (Not Yet Across) is the man's impasse. Guai (Breakthrough) means deciding: the firm decides against the yielding. The noble person's way grows; the petty person's way is troubled.