I Ching Online
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese text for divination. Its answer is a hexagram: a figure of six lines, each solid or broken. You throw three coins six times, and each throw gives one line, from the bottom up. There are 64 hexagrams, each with its own image and advice.
Six throws, one for each line. The first gives the bottom line. The sun counts 3, the moon 2.
- First line: not thrown yet
- Second line: not thrown yet
- Third line: not thrown yet
- Fourth line: not thrown yet
- Fifth line: not thrown yet
- Sixth line: not thrown yet
The Book of Changes
What is the I Ching
The I Ching is among the oldest books of China. Its core is a divination manual from the Western Zhou period, around 1000-750 BC. Commentaries known as the Ten Wings were added later, and in the 2nd century BC the book became one of the Five Classics of China.
The lines of a hexagram are read from the bottom up: a solid line is yang, a broken one yin. The lower three and the upper three lines are two of the eight trigrams, images such as heaven, water, mountain and fire. In the book the 64 hexagrams stand in the order that tradition links with King Wen of Zhou.
The question
How to ask a question
- Ask an open question that starts with “what” or “how”: “What should I know about the new job?” For a yes or no question the coin and the yes or no tarot suit better.
- Hold the question in mind while you throw. You can also type it into the field: it stays on your screen only.
- Throw the three coins six times. The first throw gives the bottom line, the last one the top line.
- Read the first hexagram, then the changing lines if there are any, and finally the second hexagram.
- One question, one reading. If you throw again for the same thing because you did not like the answer, that is an answer too.
The coins
How to read the answer
The sun counts 3, the moon 2. The sum of the three coins gives the line.
| Sum | Coins | Line | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | three moons | broken, becomes solid | 1 in 8 |
| 7 | one sun and two moons | solid | 3 in 8 |
| 8 | two suns and one moon | broken | 3 in 8 |
| 9 | three suns | solid, becomes broken | 1 in 8 |
The first hexagram describes the situation around your question. The lines with a sum of 6 or 9 change: they are the advice for this particular case and are read one by one, from the bottom up.
Then each changing line turns into its opposite, and that gives the second hexagram: it shows where things are going. When no line changes, there is no second hexagram.
The images
The eight trigrams
Each trigram is an image from nature with a character of its own. A hexagram is read as the meeting of its two trigrams.
| Trigram | What it carries |
|---|---|
| HeavenQián | strength, creative drive |
| EarthKūn | devotion, care |
| ThunderZhèn | arousal, a start |
| WaterKǎn | danger, depth |
| MountainGèn | stopping, rest |
| WindXùn | gentleness, penetration |
| FireLí | light, clarity |
| LakeDuì | joy, open talk |
The book
The 64 hexagrams and their meanings
In the order of the book: the number, the name, the two trigrams and what each hexagram means.
1 The Creative Force
In Chinese: Qián · Heaven above, heaven below
Heaven above heaven: all six lines are solid, pure creative strength. It is a time to start something and to lead it, as long as your strength serves a clear aim. Work steadily, day after day, the way the sky keeps turning. Strength that forgets its measure turns into arrogance.
2 The Receptive Force
In Chinese: Kūn · Earth above, earth below
Earth above earth: all six lines are broken, open and receptive. This is no time to lead; you get further by following a good example and finishing what has been started. Like the earth, take things in, give them room and let them grow. Patience and care do more now than initiative.
3 A Difficult Start
In Chinese: Zhūn · Water above, thunder below
Water above thunder: clouds and thunder before the storm, a shoot breaking through hard ground. Every real beginning is chaos at first. Do not push ahead without support; put things in order step by step and find people to help. The confusion is a sign that something is being born.
4 Inexperience
In Chinese: Méng · Mountain above, water below
A spring at the foot of a mountain: water that does not yet know its way. The answer here is about learning. Ask once and sincerely, then listen; asking again and again for the answer you want closes the door. What you need now is a good teacher, a book or a mentor.
5 Waiting
In Chinese: Xū · Water above, heaven below
Clouds gather in the sky and the rain will come in its own time. Strength stands before danger here, and the right move is to wait without anxiety. Eat, rest and trust the outcome. Rushing now would walk you straight into the danger ahead.
6 Conflict
In Chinese: Sòng · Heaven above, water below
Heaven pulls upward and water flows down: two directions that part. A dispute is brewing or already here. Look for an impartial person and a fair middle; a fight carried to the end costs more than it wins. This is no time for big ventures.
7 The Army
In Chinese: Shī · Earth above, water below
Water hidden under the earth: a force gathered and held in order. A shared task needs discipline, a clear aim and a leader people trust. Organise before you act and keep the aim fair. Strength without order turns against the one who holds it.
8 Holding Together
In Chinese: Bǐ · Water above, earth below
Water on the earth runs together and fills every hollow. It is time for people to come together and hold to a shared centre. Ask yourself honestly whether you can be that centre, or whom you want to stand beside. Whoever hesitates too long finds the circle already closed.
9 Small Restraint
In Chinese: Xiǎo Xù · Wind above, heaven below
Wind over heaven: thick clouds, but no rain yet. A small force holds back a large one for a while. Work with gentle means, small steps and patience; the time for the big result has not come. While you wait, refine the details.
10 Treading
In Chinese: Lǚ · Heaven above, lake below
You tread on the tail of the tiger, and it does not bite. You are close to a force greater than yours, and good manners, care and a light step keep you safe. Know where you stand and act with courtesy. Clumsiness here costs more than usual.
11 Peace
In Chinese: Tài · Earth above, heaven below
Earth above, heaven below: the light rises, the heavy sinks and the two meet. A time of harmony, when the small departs and the great arrives. Use it to build, to bring people together and to share. Good times pass too, so lay foundations while it is easy.
12 Standstill
In Chinese: Pǐ · Heaven above, earth below
Heaven above, earth below, and the two draw apart. Nothing flows: talk breaks off and the wrong people gain the upper hand. Withdraw, keep your principles and accept no post that compromises you. The standstill does not last forever.
13 Fellowship
In Chinese: Tóng Rén · Heaven above, fire below
Fire rising toward heaven: people come together openly around a shared aim. A union built in the light, without secret deals and closed circles, can carry great tasks. Look for what you share with others and stand on it. A group that shuts its door on others weakens itself.
14 Great Possession
In Chinese: Dà Yǒu · Fire above, heaven below
Fire high above heaven: the sun at noon lights everything. A time of plenty, success and visibility. What you have is great, and so is the duty that comes with it: use it modestly and generously. Wealth that serves only itself does not last.
15 Modesty
In Chinese: Qiān · Earth above, mountain below
A mountain hidden under the earth: great worth that does not show itself. Modesty here is a strength. It evens things out, taking from excess and giving to what is lacking. Finish what you start without boasting, and people will help you.
16 Enthusiasm
In Chinese: Yù · Thunder above, earth below
Thunder bursts out of the earth: energy wakes and carries people along. Enthusiasm moves things when it is in tune with what people already feel. Prepare well, find helpers and let the momentum work. Enthusiasm that is only noise burns out fast.
17 Following
In Chinese: Suí · Lake above, thunder below
Thunder resting in the lake, like evening after the work is done. To lead, first learn to follow: the time, the circumstances and the people. Adapt without losing your principles. Following out of conviction brings success.
18 Repair
In Chinese: Gǔ · Mountain above, wind below
Wind at the foot of a mountain stirs up what has gone stale. Something has been spoiled, often by neglect or an old habit, and it can be put right. Look closely at the causes before you start and follow up after you finish. The work done now prevents the next decay.
19 Approach
In Chinese: Lín · Earth above, lake below
Earth above the lake: the bank leans over the water, close and caring. Good things are drawing near and strength grows, as in spring. Use the time well and with care for others. Every rise has its season, so do not count on it lasting forever.
20 Contemplation
In Chinese: Guān · Wind above, earth below
Wind over the earth touches everything. It is time to look closely, at the situation and at yourself, before you act. Whoever stands before the eyes of others teaches more by example than by words. Look carefully and you will be seen clearly.
21 Biting Through
In Chinese: Shì Kè · Fire above, thunder below
Lightning and thunder together: something is in the way, like a morsel stuck between the teeth. The obstacle must be bitten through, firmly and fairly. Name the problem, deal with it and set clear rules. Putting it off only makes it grow.
22 Grace
In Chinese: Bì · Mountain above, fire below
Fire at the foot of a mountain lights up its shapes: beauty and form. Grace and good form help in small matters. Polish the form, but do not mistake it for the content. Big decisions need substance.
23 Stripping Away
In Chinese: Bō · Mountain above, earth below
A mountain worn down to the earth: the old structure is crumbling from the bottom up. This is no time to act or to push. Lie low, treat the people below you well and let fall what has to fall. After the decay, the new begins.
24 Return
In Chinese: Fù · Earth above, thunder below
Thunder stirring inside the earth: the turning point after the darkest time, like the days after the winter solstice. The light comes back on its own; do not force it. Rest, let the new energy grow and return to what is true for you. Small new steps are enough.
25 Innocence
In Chinese: Wú Wàng · Heaven above, thunder below
Thunder rolls under heaven: everything moves by its own nature. Act simply and honestly, with no hidden aims and without counting the gain. What comes from a clean heart goes well. Scheming and wishful thinking bring the unexpected setback.
26 Great Restraint
In Chinese: Dà Xù · Mountain above, heaven below
Heaven inside the mountain: great strength held and stored. Hold your energy back, learn, gather experience and wait for the right moment. Then it is good to take on something big and to work outside your usual circle. Restraint now is what makes the later step strong.
27 Nourishment
In Chinese: Yí · Mountain above, thunder below
Mountain above, thunder below: the picture of an open mouth, the upper jaw still, the lower one moving. The question is what feeds you and what you feed others, in food, in words and in thought. Watch what you take in and what you say. Care for the right things nourishes body and spirit.
28 Great Excess
In Chinese: Dà Guò · Lake above, wind below
The lake rises above the trees: too much weight rests on the middle and the ridgepole sags. The load is greater than the support was built for. Act now, carefully and with a clear plan, before something breaks. An unusual time calls for an unusual step.
29 The Abyss
In Chinese: Kǎn · Water above, water below
Water after water: the danger comes twice, like a gorge after a gorge. Water does not stop in danger; it flows on and fills every pit without losing itself. Keep your heart true and your actions steady and you will get through. Get used to the difficulty without getting used to fear.
30 Fire
In Chinese: Lí · Fire above, fire below
Fire upon fire: light that clings to what it burns, as the sun clings to the sky. Clarity comes when you know what you depend on and choose it well. Look after what feeds your fire: people, work and values. Light without fuel soon goes out.
31 Attraction
In Chinese: Xián · Lake above, mountain below
A lake on top of a mountain: the mountain holds the water, the water feeds the mountain. Mutual attraction, the start of a bond, the gentle influence of one on the other. Keep your heart open and your intentions clean. A union that begins like this has a good chance.
32 Constancy
In Chinese: Héng · Thunder above, wind below
Thunder and wind always go together: what lasts keeps moving, in one direction. Constancy means keeping your course while you adapt to the time. Build habits and bonds that can last. Hasty, restless effort wears itself out.
33 Retreat
In Chinese: Dùn · Heaven above, mountain below
Heaven draws back as the mountain grows beneath it. The opposing force is getting stronger, and a timely retreat is the right move. Withdraw calmly and in good order, without bitterness and without burning bridges. Retreat at the right moment saves your strength for later.
34 Great Strength
In Chinese: Dà Zhuàng · Thunder above, heaven below
Thunder high in the sky: great strength on the move. Power is on your side, and that is exactly why it must be fair. Use it only for what is right and do not push just because you can. Real strength knows when to stop.
35 Progress
In Chinese: Jìn · Fire above, earth below
The sun rises over the earth: steady, visible progress. Your work is noticed and doors open. Let your own light show and share the success with the people who help you. Honest progress grows quickly.
36 Darkened Light
In Chinese: Míng Yí · Earth above, fire below
The sun has sunk beneath the earth: the light is hidden and darkness prevails. In such a time keep your light inside: be careful, do not show everything and do not provoke. Protect yourself without becoming a target. The dark time passes.
37 The Family
In Chinese: Jiā Rén · Wind above, fire below
Wind coming out of fire: warmth that spreads outward from the hearth. Order begins at home, with clear roles and words backed by deeds. Look after the people closest to you and keep the rules simple and fair. A well-ordered home steadies everything else.
38 Opposition
In Chinese: Kuí · Fire above, lake below
Fire rises and the lake sinks: two things moving apart. People or plans pull in different directions. Big joint ventures are hard now; small things still work. Respect the differences and look for what can still be shared.
39 Obstruction
In Chinese: Jiǎn · Water above, mountain below
Water on a steep mountain: the way ahead is blocked. Do not throw yourself at the obstacle; step back, look at yourself and find allies. Advice from an experienced person helps now. The obstacle is a reason to grow before you go on.
40 Release
In Chinese: Jiě · Thunder above, water below
Thunder and rain: the storm breaks and the air clears. The tension falls and the knot comes undone. Settle quickly what remains, forgive what can be forgiven and go back to normal life. Do not stay in the past difficulty longer than you need to.
41 Decrease
In Chinese: Sǔn · Mountain above, lake below
A lake at the foot of a mountain gives up its water so that the mountain can stay green. Something has to be given up, and when it is done sincerely it brings good fortune. Cut the excess, simplify and spend less. A modest offering is worth much when it is honest.
42 Increase
In Chinese: Yì · Wind above, thunder below
Wind and thunder strengthen each other: a time of growth. What is given from above comes back many times over. Take something on, accept big tasks and pass the benefit on. Change for the better whatever you can while the wind is at your back.
43 Breakthrough
In Chinese: Guài · Lake above, heaven below
The lake has risen to the sky and is about to overflow: it is time for a firm decision. Say openly what has to be said, calmly and without anger. Force and open hostility do not help; clarity does. Decide, then act.
44 Encounter
In Chinese: Gòu · Heaven above, wind below
Wind under heaven touches everything: an unexpected meeting. Something that looks weak at first comes in and quickly gains power. Welcome it kindly, but do not give it the lead and do not bind yourself quickly. Watch what you let in at the start.
45 Gathering
In Chinese: Cuì · Lake above, earth below
The lake rises over the earth as the water gathers. People gather around a shared centre: a family, a group, a cause. A gathering needs a leader, a clear purpose and a little ritual that binds. Where many gather, prepare for the unexpected too.
46 Rising
In Chinese: Shēng · Earth above, wind below
A tree grows up out of the earth: steady growth from the bottom up. Progress comes step by step, with effort and patience, like a plant that grows a little every day. Seek out the people who can help and do not be afraid. The direction now is upward.
47 Exhaustion
In Chinese: Kùn · Lake above, water below
A lake whose water has drained away below it: exhaustion and pressure. Words carry little weight now, so act more and talk less. Keep your inner calm and your aims; hardship tests and toughens. Whoever stays true to themselves gets through.
48 The Well
In Chinese: Jǐng · Water above, wind below
Water drawn up in a wooden bucket: the well. Towns change, but the well stays and feeds everyone who comes. Return to the deep source of things, to what lasts in you and around you. Look after the rope and the bucket: a well no one can reach helps no one.
49 Revolution
In Chinese: Gé · Lake above, fire below
Fire in the lake: two forces that cannot stay as they are. Change is ripe, the way an animal sheds its old coat when its season comes. Choose the moment carefully and act only once people believe you. What is changed in time becomes lighter for everyone.
50 The Cauldron
In Chinese: Dǐng · Fire above, wind below
Wood under fire: the ritual cauldron in which food is cooked and offered. The raw becomes nourishing and a gift turns into a result. Look after the vessel, the structure that holds your work, and fill it with something worth offering. Good order makes good use of talent.
51 Shock
In Chinese: Zhèn · Thunder above, thunder below
Thunder after thunder: a shock that shakes everything. First comes fear, then laughter, once you see that you are still on your feet. Keep calm in the middle of the noise and do not drop what matters. A shock wakes you up and shows what is solid.
52 Stillness
In Chinese: Gèn · Mountain above, mountain below
Mountain upon mountain: stillness. Stop when it is time to stop and move when it is time to move. Quiet your mind, your body and your words, and see the situation without the push of desire. Rest at the right moment is a strength.
53 Gradual Progress
In Chinese: Jiàn · Wind above, mountain below
A tree on a mountain grows slowly and stands firm. Development comes step by step, in the right order, like a wedding that follows custom. Do not skip stages and do not hurry. Gradual progress brings a lasting result.
54 The Young Bride
In Chinese: Guī Mèi · Thunder above, lake below
Thunder above the lake: the young bride who follows the older husband. You enter a situation in which you are not the one who decides. Do not push your own ventures now; know your place and keep your dignity. What is done impatiently brings trouble.
55 Abundance
In Chinese: Fēng · Thunder above, fire below
Thunder and lightning together: a peak of abundance and power. Make use of the fullness without worrying about its end. Like the sun at noon, light up everything and decide clearly. Every peak is followed by a decline, so act while it is light.
56 The Traveller
In Chinese: Lǚ · Fire above, mountain below
Fire on a mountain burns briefly and moves on: the traveller. You are somewhere for a while, among strangers or in an unfamiliar role. Keep to modesty, care and courtesy, and keep your plans small. A traveller who behaves well finds shelter.
57 Gentle Penetration
In Chinese: Xùn · Wind above, wind below
Wind after wind: a gentle force that gets in everywhere. Small, steady influence achieves more than force. Have a clear aim and return to it again and again, the way the wind keeps blowing. Seek the advice of someone experienced.
58 Joy
In Chinese: Duì · Lake above, lake below
Lake beside lake: two waters that feed each other. Joy that is shared, in conversation, in learning together, in friendship. Real joy comes from inner firmness shown with gentleness. Pleasure bought with flattery does not last.
59 Dispersion
In Chinese: Huàn · Wind above, water below
Wind over water breaks the ice and scatters the mist. What is frozen or divided can be dissolved now: tension, pride, separation. Bring people together again around something larger than themselves. A shared aim melts what stands between people.
60 Measure
In Chinese: Jié · Water above, lake below
Water above the lake: the lake holds only as much as its banks allow. Limits give form and strength, in spending, in time and in words. Set limits you can live with, because a limit that is too harsh does not last. Measure is freedom with a frame.
61 Inner Truth
In Chinese: Zhōng Fú · Wind above, lake below
Wind over the lake stirs the water to its depths. Inner sincerity reaches even the hardest hearts, as it reaches the pigs and the fish. Speak and act from the centre, without hidden motives. Truth felt from within is understood without many words.
62 Small Excess
In Chinese: Xiǎo Guò · Thunder above, mountain below
Thunder over a mountain sounds near and small. Small things succeed now, big ones do not. Like a bird that should not fly too high, stay low, keep modest and mind the details. A little too much care is better than a little too little.
63 After Completion
In Chinese: Jì Jì · Water above, fire below
Water above fire: everything is in its place and the kettle is boiling. Something has been completed and the balance is full. Exactly now, take care: order easily slips into disorder. Guard what has been achieved and do not stop paying attention.
64 Before Completion
In Chinese: Wèi Jì · Fire above, water below
Fire above water: each element in the wrong place, and the work not yet done. The crossing is nearly made, and the last steps need the most care. Sort things out patiently, one by one, the way a young fox crosses the ice. The goal is close, and carelessness at the end costs everything.
Frequently asked questions
Is the I Ching reading free?
Yes. You throw the coins and read the answer with no sign-up and no payment.
Why are there exactly 64 hexagrams?
Each of the six lines is solid or broken, and 2 to the power of 6 makes 64 different figures. The book has one text for each of them.
Is the I Ching read only with coins?
No. The older way uses fifty yarrow stalks, and with them the sums 6, 7, 8 and 9 come with different chances. Coins are the quicker way, widely used since the Tang dynasty and the most common today.
How is it different from tarot?
Tarot draws cards from a deck, and each card carries its own meaning. The I Ching builds one figure of six lines from the throws and reads it whole, together with the lines that change.
Is the answer a prediction?
Not in the sense of a forecast. The hexagram describes the situation and suggests how to act in it, and the decision stays yours.
