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An I Ching hexagram is a six-line figure made from solid yang and broken yin lines. Read the lines from the bottom upward. In the Wilhelm/Baynes casting method, lines valued 6 or 9 are changing lines: each flips to its opposite to create a second hexagram. The first figure and its changing-line text provide the reading’s starting point; how much weight to give the second figure depends on the interpretation method.
What is an I Ching hexagram?
The I Ching, also called the Book of Changes, contains 64 hexagrams. Each is built from six stacked lines: a solid line represents yang, and a broken line represents yin. The lines are numbered from the bottom upward, and each hexagram combines two three-line trigrams. Hexagrams and individual lines have associated text that readers consult when interpreting a casting. Wikipedia’s I Ching overview and hexagram overview provide general background.
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What are changing lines?
In the consultation method explained in the Wilhelm/Baynes translation, each cast line has a value of 6, 7, 8, or 9. Values 6 and 9 are old, or moving, lines; values 7 and 8 are stable lines. An old yin line (6) changes from broken to solid, while an old yang line (9) changes from solid to broken. Stable lines stay as cast. Some notation marks changing yin with an X and changing yang with a circle, though notation conventions can vary. The Wilhelm/Baynes consultation appendix describes this method.
| Value | Line when cast | Changes? | Result if changing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Old yin (broken) | Yes | Yang (solid) |
| 7 | Young yang (solid) | No | Remains solid |
| 8 | Young yin (broken) | No | Remains broken |
| 9 | Old yang (solid) | Yes | Yin (broken) |
How does a changing line make a second hexagram?
Keep the six original lines in order. Flip every changing line to its opposite and leave every stable line unchanged. The resulting six-line figure is a second hexagram, often called the transformed or relating hexagram. The first is the primary hexagram.
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A one-line example
Suppose a casting has one old-yang line and five stable lines. The old-yang line is solid, so change it to broken; keep the other five lines as cast. Identify the new six-line figure from the bottom up. This example shows only how to form the second figure; the meaning comes from the texts and the interpretive approach being used.
How do you read a hexagram with changing lines?
- Identify the primary hexagram. Record all six lines from the bottom upward, then find its hexagram text in a printed I Ching translation or reference.
- Read its overall text. Consult the primary hexagram’s Judgment and Image material as presented in your translation.
- Read the text for each moving line. In the Wilhelm/Baynes method, the line texts associated with the changing lines are part of the reading.
- Form and consider the resulting hexagram. Flip each moving line and consult the resulting figure’s material. The sources support this sequence, but they do not establish a single universal rule for how much interpretive emphasis the second hexagram receives.
A translation is necessary because the reading depends on the wording of the hexagram and line texts; the sources do not establish one translation as best for every reader.
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What if no lines change?
If all six lines are stable in the Wilhelm/Baynes method, there is no moving-line text to consult and no second figure produced by the moving-line rule. The cited method directs readers to the hexagram-level Judgment and Image material.
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What if several lines change?
More than one line can move in a casting. Interpretive guides differ on how to weigh the line texts and resulting figure, so identify the convention you are following instead of treating one rule as universal.
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For example, a UAYA educational guide summarizes approaches that include reading both line texts when two lines change; giving particular attention to the middle changing line in some three-line readings; and shifting attention toward stable lines or the resulting hexagram when four or five lines change. For six changing lines, it notes special “Use of Nines” and “Use of Sixes” texts for hexagrams 1 and 2. The guide presents these as guidelines, not rigid rules, and does not establish them as the practice of every historical school.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can you cast a hexagram?
The overview describes two methods: casting three coins and casting yarrow stalks. Both generate six line values, one line at a time; the process and materials differ.
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| Method | Materials and process | Practical distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Three coins | Use three coins to generate each line, repeating until you have six lines. | The cited overview describes this as quicker. |
| Yarrow stalks | Use 50 stalks, set one aside, then repeatedly divide and count the remainder to generate each line. Repeat for all six lines. | The cited overview describes this as more involved. |
For either method, use a translation or beginner reference that includes the hexagram and line texts. Yarrow stalks are optional equipment for readers who specifically want to use that casting method.
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