Yijing CompassI Ching reading
All hexagrams

Hexagram 24 · King Wen sequence

Returning

復 · fù

Modern reflection

Return to the essential after error, exhaustion, or detour.

Lower trigram: 震 Thunder
Upper trigram: 坤 Earth

Historical source

Fû indicates that there will be free course and progress (in what it denotes). (The subject of it) finds no one to distress him in his exits and entrances; friends come to him, and no error is committed. He will return and repeat his (proper) course. In seven days comes his return. There will be advantage in whatever direction movement is made.

(The trigram representing) the earth and that for thunder in the midst of it form Fû. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, on the day of the (winter) solstice, shut the gates of the passes (from one state to another), so that the travelling merchants could not (then) pursue their journeys, nor the princes go on with the inspection of their states.

James Legge, 1882, public domain. Historical wording is shown for source transparency, not as a guaranteed prediction.

Changing-line passages

  1. Line 1The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject returning (from an error) of no great extent, which would not proceed to anything requiring repentance. There will be great good fortune.
  2. Line 2The second SIX, divided, shows the admirable return (of its subject). There will be good fortune.
  3. Line 3The third SIX, divided, shows one who has made repeated returns. The position is perilous, but there will be no error.
  4. Line 4The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject moving right in the centre (among those represented by the other divided lines), and yet returning alone (to his proper path).
  5. Line 5The fifth SIX, divided, shows the noble return of its subject. There will be no ground for repentance.
  6. Line 6The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject all astray on the subject of returning. There will be evil. There will be calamities and errors. If with his views he put the hosts in motion, the end will be a great defeat, whose issues will extend to the ruler of the state. Even in ten years he will not be able to repair the disaster.

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