Plum Blossom Hexagram Meanings: Quick Reference for 64 Gua
By wulonghao04@gmail.com / April 6, 2026 / No Comments / Plum Blossom Divination
Plum Blossom Hexagram Meanings: Quick Reference for 64 Gua
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Introduction: Your Look‑Up Table for the I Ching
The 64 hexagrams of the I Ching (Yijing) are the foundation of Plum Blossom Divination. Each hexagram is a six‑line symbol made of two trigrams. The upper trigram represents the external situation, the lower trigram represents your inner role. Together, they tell a story about what is happening now and what will happen next.
This guide gives you a quick reference for all 64 hexagrams. Each entry includes:
- Hexagram number and name (English and Pinyin)
- A one‑sentence summary of the situation
- The general advice (action or waiting)
- Which moving lines often appear for recent events
Bookmark this page. After you cast a hexagram with our free Plum Blossom tool, come here to understand its meaning.
How to Read This Reference
If your hexagram is, for example, 24 – Return (Fu), look for that number. The one‑sentence summary tells you the core energy. Then read the “general advice” column. If you have a moving line (e.g., line 3), pay extra attention to the note under “moving lines.”
Remember: a “bad” hexagram is not a curse. It is a weather forecast. You cannot stop the rain, but you can bring an umbrella.
The 64 Hexagrams at a Glance
| # | Hexagram (Name) | Situation Summary | General Advice | Moving Lines for Recent Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qian / Heaven | Creative strength, leadership. | Act boldly, but do not overreach. | Line 4: hesitation ends badly. |
| 2 | Kun / Earth | Receptivity, yielding. | Follow, do not lead. Support others. | Line 3: keep your achievements hidden. |
| 3 | Zhun / Difficulty | Initial struggle, like sprouting seed. | Do not force. Wait for help. | Line 2: accept assistance. |
| 4 | Meng / Youthful Folly | Ignorance, inexperience. | Ask a teacher. Do not guess. | Line 5: a child needs gentle guidance. |
| 5 | Xu / Waiting | Necessary delay. | Do not rush. Prepare quietly. | Line 4: the wait will end soon. |
| 6 | Song / Conflict | Dispute, litigation. | Stop arguing. Withdraw if possible. | Line 3: fighting brings loss. |
| 7 | Shi / Army | Discipline, collective action. | Follow orders. No solo moves. | Line 2: promoted for reliability. |
| 8 | Bi / Union | Alliance, joining. | Accept the offer. Good to merge. | Line 5: the leader chooses you. |
| 9 | Xiao Chu / Small Taming | Small obstacles, minor delays. | Adjust slightly. Keep moving. | Line 3: a wheel breaks; fix it. |
| 10 | Lu / Treading | Careful steps, danger ahead. | Walk gently. Do not provoke. | Line 4: step on tiger's tail – survive by calm. |
| 11 | Tai / Peace | Harmony, flow. | Move forward. Everything aligns. | Line 2: include everyone. |
| 12 | Pi / Standstill | Blockage, stagnation. | Do nothing. Wait for change. | Line 5: the blockage will clear on its own. |
| 13 | Tong Ren / Fellowship | Community, shared vision. | Gather people. Find allies. | Line 3: don't hide your intentions. |
| 14 | Da You / Great Possession | Abundance, wealth. | Share what you have. | Line 5: give to receive more. |
| 15 | Qian / Modesty | Humility, quiet strength. | Stay low. Success follows. | Line 3: your work speaks for itself. |
| 16 | Yu / Enthusiasm | Joy, high energy. | Act now. Good timing. | Line 2: don't overdo it. |
| 17 | Sui / Following | Adapting, going with the flow. | Follow someone wise. | Line 3: choose the right leader. |
| 18 | Gu / Decay | Rottenness, corruption. | Investigate. Fix the root. | Line 5: a father's mistake repeats – stop it. |
| 19 | Lin / Approach | Arrival, upcoming event. | Prepare for something new. | Line 2: the event is good. |
| 20 | Guan / Contemplation | Observation, watching. | Do not act yet. Learn first. | Line 5: you are being watched. |
| 21 | Shi He / Biting Through | Obstruction, overcoming. | Use force to break through. | Line 3: bite through a bone – painful but necessary. |
| 22 | Bi / Grace | Decoration, surface beauty. | Looks matter now. | Line 5: simple is better. |
| 23 | Bo / Splitting Apart | Collapse, falling. | Let it fall. Rebuild later. | Line 5: a fruit falls – harvest after loss. |
| 24 | Fu / Return | Comeback, cycle restarts. | Go back. Repeat a past success. | Line 3: return after wandering – forgiven. |
| 25 | Wu Wang / Innocence | No expectations, natural. | Do not scheme. Act purely. | Line 4: honest mistake – no blame. |
| 26 | Da Chu / Great Taming | Massive potential, stored energy. | Save strength. Wait for a big move. | Line 5: a boar is tamed – prepare for power. |
| 27 | Yi / Nourishment | Feeding body and mind. | Eat well. Study. Care for self. | Line 3: nourished by what is not your own – beware. |
| 28 | Da Guo / Great Excess | Overload, too much. | Reduce. Less is more. | Line 4: a beam bends – it will break. |
| 29 | Kan / Water (repeat) | Danger, deep water. | Stay alert. Learn to swim. | Line 3: falling into water – call for help. |
| 30 | Li / Fire (repeat) | Clarity, radiance. | Be seen. Shine your light. | Line 4: sudden fire – change comes fast. |
| 31 | Xian / Influence | Attraction, romance. | Let it happen naturally. | Line 2: a gentle touch begins the dance. |
| 32 | Heng / Duration | Steadiness, long‑term. | No change. Keep going. | Line 3: persistence without joy – empty. |
| 33 | Dun / Retreat | Withdrawal, hiding. | Leave before trouble arrives. | Line 2: retreat with purpose. |
| 34 | Da Zhuang / Great Power | Strength, aggression. | Do not bully. Use power gently. | Line 3: a ram butts a fence – its horns get stuck. |
| 35 | Jin / Progress | Advancement, promotion. | Move upward. Accept recognition. | Line 2: a noble person receives a reward. |
| 36 | Ming Yi / Darkening of Light | Injustice, hiding intelligence. | Play dumb. Survive. | Line 5: a prince is injured – keep silent. |
| 37 | Jia Ren / Family | Home, domestic harmony. | Focus on family first. | Line 3: harsh words at home – apologize. |
| 38 | Kui / Opposition | Strife, disagreement. | Do not force agreement. Separate. | Line 4: a stranger meets you – no trust yet. |
| 39 | Jian / Difficulty | Obstacle, hard path. | Turn back. Find another way. | Line 3: climbing a mountain – rest halfway. |
| 40 | Jie / Deliverance | Release, freedom. | Leave a bad situation. | Line 2: a rider kills a fox – remove a small enemy. |
| 41 | Sun / Decrease | Loss now, gain later. | Accept the loss. | Line 3: one person moves out – two will move in. |
| 42 | Yi / Increase | Gain, growth. | Receive. Say yes. | Line 2: a gift from above – accept it. |
| 43 | Guai / Breakthrough | Decisive action, cutting. | End something clearly. | Line 5: a weed is pulled – remove the problem. |
| 44 | Gou / Meeting | Unexpected encounter. | Be open. Someone arrives. | Line 3: a stranger brings news. |
| 45 | Cui / Gathering | Assembly, group meeting. | Join the crowd. | Line 2: called to a meeting – go. |
| 46 | Sheng / Pushing Upward | Rise, promotion. | Climb steadily. | Line 3: an empty city – advance anyway. |
| 47 | Kun / Exhaustion | Trapped, depleted. | Wait. Help is coming. | Line 2: a noble is drunk – rest until sober. |
| 48 | Jing / The Well | Source, community resource. | Clean the well. Share water. | Line 3: the well is muddy – do not drink. |
| 49 | Ge / Revolution | Change, radical shift. | Burn the old. Welcome the new. | Line 4: a change of government – adapt. |
| 50 | Ding / The Cauldron | Nourishment, ritual. | Cook a feast. Share wisdom. | Line 3: a handle breaks – fix it before cooking. |
| 51 | Zhen / Shock | Thunder, sudden fear. | Do not panic. It will pass. | Line 4: shock in the night – lose nothing. |
| 52 | Gen / Mountain (repeat) | Stillness, stopping. | Stop. Do not move. | Line 3: a back is stiff – rest until it softens. |
| 53 | Jian / Development | Gradual progress. | Slow and steady wins. | Line 2: a goose lands on a rock – safe for now. |
| 54 | Gui Mei / Marrying Maiden | Imbalance, mismatch. | One gives more than the other. Rebalance. | Line 3: the bride is late – not her fault. |
| 55 | Feng / Abundance | Fullness, plenty. | Enjoy but do not waste. | Line 4: a canopy hides the sun – don't block your own light. |
| 56 | Lu / The Wanderer | Travel, foreign land. | Be humble. Observe local rules. | Line 3: a traveler is robbed – keep low. |
| 57 | Xun / Wind (repeat) | Penetration, gentle influence. | Persuade softly. Do not force. | Line 2: wind under a bed – hidden influence works. |
| 58 | Dui / Lake (repeat) | Joy, open communication. | Speak your heart. Laugh. | Line 3: a lake dries up – joy leaves. Refill. |
| 59 | Huan / Dispersion | Scattering, dissolving. | Let go. Do not hold on. | Line 4: a group disperses – no conflict. |
| 60 | Jie / Limitation | Boundaries, moderation. | Set limits. Say no. | Line 3: a traveler hoards water – share. |
| 61 | Zhong Fu / Inner Truth | Sincerity, trust. | Be honest. Believe others. | Line 4: a crane calls – its young answer. |
| 62 | Xiao Guo / Small Excess | Small mistakes, over‑attention to detail. | Do not overthink. | Line 2: a bird flies too high – comes down safely. |
| 63 | Ji Ji / After Completion | Done, finished. | Rest. The goal is reached. | Line 4: a boat leaks – small repair needed. |
| 64 | Wei Ji / Before Completion | Not done yet, almost there. | One last push. | Line 5: a fox wets its tail – careful at the end. |
How to Use This Table with Moving Lines
After you cast a hexagram, note the number. Look up the hexagram in the table. Read the “Situation Summary” and “General Advice” first. Then, if your reading has a moving line (e.g., line 2), look at the “Moving Lines for Recent Events” column. That specific line often overrides the general hexagram meaning for short‑term questions.
For example, you get hexagram 15 (Modesty) with moving line 3. The general advice says “Stay low.” But line 3 says “Your work speaks for itself.” That means even if you try to stay hidden, others will notice. So you can accept recognition without bragging.
Beyond the Table: Your Intuition Matters
This table is a starting point. Over time, you will develop your own associations. Some hexagrams will feel “cold” or “warm” to you. Trust that. Plum Blossom is not rigid mathematics — it is a conversation between you and the universe. The numbers are the language. You are the translator.
Bookmark this page. Use our free Plum Blossom tool to cast hexagrams instantly. Then come here to decode them. With practice, you will read 64 hexagrams as easily as 26 letters.
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