The 64 hexagrams

Browse every hexagram by number, search by name or theme, or filter by element.

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No. 1乾QiánThe CreativeNo. 2坤KūnThe ReceptiveNo. 3屯ZhūnDifficulty at the BeginningNo. 4蒙MéngYouthful FollyNo. 5需XūWaitingNo. 6讼SòngConflictNo. 7师ShīThe ArmyNo. 8比BǐHolding TogetherNo. 9小畜Xiǎo ChùSmall TamingNo. 10履LǚTreadingNo. 11泰TàiPeaceNo. 12否PǐStandstillNo. 13同人Tóng RénFellowshipNo. 14大有Dà YǒuGreat PossessionNo. 15谦QiānModestyNo. 16豫YùEnthusiasmNo. 17随SuíFollowingNo. 18蛊GǔWork on the DecayedNo. 19临LínApproachNo. 20观GuānContemplationNo. 21噬嗑Shì KēBiting ThroughNo. 22贲BìGraceNo. 23剥BōSplitting ApartNo. 24复FùReturnNo. 25无妄Wú WàngInnocenceNo. 26大畜Dà ChùGreat TamingNo. 27颐YíNourishmentNo. 28大过Dà GuòGreat PreponderanceNo. 29坎KǎnThe AbysmalNo. 30离LíThe ClingingNo. 31咸XiánInfluenceNo. 32恒HéngDurationNo. 33遯DùnRetreatNo. 34大壮Dà ZhuàngGreat PowerNo. 35晋JìnProgressNo. 36明夷Míng YíDarkening of the LightNo. 37家人Jiā RénThe FamilyNo. 38睽KuíOppositionNo. 39蹇JiǎnObstructionNo. 40解XièDeliveranceNo. 41损SǔnDecreaseNo. 42益YìIncreaseNo. 43夬GuàiBreakthroughNo. 44姤GòuComing to MeetNo. 45萃CuìGathering TogetherNo. 46升ShēngPushing UpwardNo. 47困KùnOppressionNo. 48井JǐngThe WellNo. 49革GéRevolutionNo. 50鼎DǐngThe CaldronNo. 51震ZhènThe ArousingNo. 52艮GènKeeping StillNo. 53渐JiànDevelopmentNo. 54归妹Guī MèiThe Marrying MaidenNo. 55丰FēngAbundanceNo. 56旅LǚThe WandererNo. 57巽XùnThe GentleNo. 58兑DuìThe JoyousNo. 59涣HuànDispersionNo. 60节JiéLimitationNo. 61中孚Zhōng FúInner TruthNo. 62小过Xiǎo GuòSmall PreponderanceNo. 63既济Jì JìAfter CompletionNo. 64未济Wèi JìBefore Completion

Hexagram 47 · 困 · Kùn

Oppression

Element:
Lake over Water
Key themes:
hardship, restriction, endurance, resilience, inner strength

Image

A tree trapped in a barren landscape, symbolizing hardship and the need for inner strength.

Overall message

Hexagram 47 represents a time of hardship and restriction. It emphasizes the importance of resilience, inner strength, and maintaining integrity. Success comes from enduring the challenge and emerging stronger.

Endure hardship with resilience and inner strength. Focus on maintaining your integrity and trust that the situation will improve.

Classical text (Legge, 1882)

Judgment. In (the condition denoted by) Khwăn there may (yet be) progress and success. For the firm and correct, the (really) great man, there will be good fortune. He will fall into no error. If he make speeches, his words cannot be made good.

Image. (The trigram representing) a marsh, and (below it that for a defile, which has drained the other dry so that there is) no water in it, form Khwăn. The superior man, in accordance with this, will sacrifice his life in order to carry out his purpose.

From James Legge's translation of the I Ching (Sacred Books of the East, vol. XVI, 1882). Public domain.

The six lines

  1. Line 6 · Overcoming Oppression

    The hardship is overcome through perseverance and inner strength.

    Reflect on the lessons learned and move forward with renewed strength.

  2. Line 5 · Release from Oppression

    The hardship begins to ease, and relief is in sight.

    Remain patient and prepare for the coming change.

  3. Line 4 · Glimmer of Hope

    A small opportunity for relief appears.

    Seize the opportunity cautiously and with gratitude.

  4. Line 3 · Struggling Alone

    The hardship intensifies, and you may feel isolated.

    Stay strong and focus on your inner resilience.

  5. Line 2 · Seeking Help

    Help is available, but it requires humility to accept it.

    Reach out to others and accept support.

  6. Line 1 · Trapped in Darkness

    The hardship is overwhelming, and escape seems impossible.

    Stay calm and conserve your energy. Do not act rashly.

Related hexagrams

Opposite: If every line of this hexagram were inverted (yang to yin and vice versa), you would have Hexagram 22 · 贲 · Bì. This is the hexagram's structural counterpart — the situation it could become if every dynamic flipped.

Nuclear: The hexagram hidden inside this one, built from lines 2-3-4 and 3-4-5, is Hexagram 37 · 家人 · Jiā Rén. The nuclear hexagram describes the inner pattern that produced this situation — what is going on underneath.

Change by line:

If only one line of this hexagram changed in your cast, you would arrive at:

  1. Line 1 changing → Hexagram 58 · 兑 · Duì
  2. Line 2 changing → Hexagram 45 · 萃 · Cuì
  3. Line 3 changing → Hexagram 28 · 大过 · Dà Guò
  4. Line 4 changing → Hexagram 29 · 坎 · Kǎn
  5. Line 5 changing → Hexagram 40 · 解 · Xiè
  6. Line 6 changing → Hexagram 6 · 讼 · Sòng