The judgment
The Judgment grants success and says it is favorable to stay true; taking a wife brings good fortune. The commentary explains that Xian means feeling or influence. The yielding trigram rests above the firm, and the two energies stir each other and join. The young man takes the lower place beneath the young woman, since the mountain is the youngest son and the lake the youngest daughter, which shows respect and courtship. Heaven and earth move each other and all things come to life; the wise move people's hearts and the world finds peace.
The image: Lake over Mountain
A lake rests on top of a mountain, held in a hollow at the summit. The classics say the noble person, in the same way, receives others with an open, uncluttered mind. Real influence begins with receptivity: when you are not full of yourself, people and ideas can reach you, and you can reach them in return.
Hexagram 31 in love and relationships
In love, Xian is one of the most favorable hexagrams, traditionally associated with courtship, attraction and marriage. It suggests mutual feeling, a natural pull toward each other and respect that runs both ways. Its lines warn against rushing or acting on impulse alone. Let attraction grow from sincerity, openness and patience, and commitment can follow.
Career and money
At work, Influence favors persuasion through genuine connection rather than pressure: collaboration, networking, partnerships and negotiations where both sides feel heard. It is a good time to listen closely and respond thoughtfully. Avoid manipulative tactics and hasty moves. Your influence grows when you are open and truly interested in others.
If you asked about a decision
For a yes/no question, Xian often leans toward yes, especially for questions about relationships or partnerships. The condition is mutuality: if both sides are genuinely drawn toward the outcome, proceed. If you are pushing against resistance, slow down.
The six lines
Lines are counted from the bottom. Read a line's text when it came up as a changing line (a 6 or a 9) in your cast.
- Line 1 (bottom) · yin
The stirring is felt in the big toe. As a changing line, it suggests an impulse just beginning to move; interest is there, but it has not yet become action, so see where it leads before committing.
- Line 2 · yin
The stirring reaches the calves: misfortune; staying where you are brings good fortune. When this line changes, it warns against rushing after an impulse, since the calves move before the body decides; wait for clearer direction.
- Line 3 · yang
It reaches the thighs, which cling to whatever they follow: going on brings humiliation. As a changing line, it warns against following desire or other people blindly; act from your own judgment instead.
- Line 4 · yang
Staying true brings good fortune and regret disappears. If you come and go restlessly, only your friends follow your thoughts. As a changing line, it suggests influence at the level of the heart; sincerity reaches far, while anxious scheming stays small.
- Line 5 · yang
It reaches the flesh along the back of the neck: no regret. If this line is moving, it suggests a steady firmness that is not easily moved; you avoid regret, though your influence on others may stay limited.
- Line 6 (top) · yin
It reaches the jaws, cheeks and tongue. As a changing line, it warns that influence has turned into mere talk; words without sincerity or action behind them persuade no one for long.
Hexagram 31: common questions
What does hexagram 31 mean?
Hexagram 31, Xian, means Influence, Attraction or Mutual Feeling. It opens the second part of the I Ching's traditional arrangement, which turns from the cosmic to the human. Its image, a lake on a mountain, shows two forces responding to each other. The hexagram favors sincere connection, openness and respect, and is traditionally a strong sign for love.
Is hexagram 31 a good sign for love?
Traditionally, yes. Its Judgment says taking a wife brings good fortune, and it is widely read as one of the best hexagrams for romance and partnership. The lines add nuance: influence rising from the toes to the tongue shows the difference between sincere feeling and impulse or mere talk. Let the attraction be mutual and unhurried.
The I Ching is offered here as a traditional tool for reflection and entertainment. A reading describes a situation and its tendencies, not a fixed outcome, and is not medical, legal or financial advice.