Hexagram 61
Inner Truth
中孚 (Zhōng Fú)
Wind over Lake
Hexagram 61 in the I Ching represents inner truth and sincerity - the power of genuine understanding and authentic communication. This iching hexagram 61 symbolizes the profound influence that comes from inner integrity and truthfulness, showing how sincere hearts can move even the most difficult situations.
Key Concepts
The Judgment
Hexagram 61 represents the transformative power of genuine sincerity and inner truth. This iching hexagram 61 teaches us that authentic communication and heartfelt honesty create connections that transcend ordinary understanding. When we speak and act from a place of true inner conviction, we can influence situations and people in ways that force or manipulation never could.
The Image
The image shows wind moving over the lake's surface, penetrating to its depths just as inner truth penetrates to the heart of matters. In iching hexagram 61, we learn that true understanding requires patience and the willingness to look beneath surface appearances. The superior person uses this principle to ensure justice is tempered with mercy and understanding.
Interpretation & Guidance
When hexagram 61 appears in your reading, it signals a time when sincerity and truthfulness are your greatest assets. You are called to communicate from your heart and act with complete authenticity. Pretense and manipulation will fail now, but genuine honesty will open doors and create meaningful connections.
This hexagram encourages you to trust in the power of truth and to express yourself with complete sincerity. Your inner convictions, when genuinely held and honestly expressed, have the power to influence others and transform difficult situations. However, this influence must come from real understanding, not mere words.
In all areas of life, iching hexagram 61 suggests that success comes through building trust and demonstrating consistent integrity. Your ability to understand others deeply and communicate truthfully creates bonds that can withstand any challenge.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Nine at the Beginning (初九)
Bottom line - Yang
"Being prepared brings good fortune. If there are secret designs, it is disquieting."
The first line emphasizes the importance of inner preparation and pure intentions. True inner truth begins with honest self-examination and genuine motives. Any hidden agendas or secret plans will undermine your sincerity and create anxiety. Focus on cultivating authentic understanding within yourself first.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"A crane calling in the shade. Its young answers it. I have a good goblet. I will share it with you."
This line represents the natural response that genuine sincerity evokes. Like a crane whose call is answered by its young, your authentic expression will find resonance in others. True inner truth creates spontaneous connection and mutual understanding without force or artifice.
Six in the Third Place (六三)
Third line - Yin
"He finds a comrade. Now he beats the drum, now he stops. Now he sobs, now he sings."
A time of emotional vulnerability and dependence on others. Your inner truth makes you sensitive to the responses of those around you, causing fluctuations in your emotional state. While this openness is part of genuine connection, be careful not to lose your center in the reactions of others.
Six in the Fourth Place (六四)
Fourth line - Yin
"The moon nearly at the full. The team horse goes astray. No blame."
This line suggests a time of near-completion where some separation or divergence occurs. Like the moon approaching fullness or a horse leaving the team, there may be a natural parting of ways. When guided by inner truth, such separations happen without blame or bitterness - they are simply part of authentic development.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五)
Fifth line - Yang
"He possesses truth, which links together. No blame."
The ruler's line represents the highest expression of inner truth - the ability to create unity and connection through genuine sincerity. Your authentic understanding serves as a binding force that brings people together. This is the ideal position where inner truth manifests as effective leadership and harmonious relationships.
Nine at the Top (上九)
Top line - Yang
"Cockcrow penetrating to heaven. Perseverance brings misfortune."
The top line warns against empty expressions of truth that lack genuine substance. Like a rooster's crow that reaches toward heaven but carries no real message, words without authentic inner conviction are ultimately hollow. At this extreme, even perseverance in such empty expressions leads to misfortune.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
In love, hexagram 61 represents the foundation of all lasting relationships - genuine understanding and authentic communication. This is an excellent time to express your true feelings and build deeper emotional connections through honest sharing. Relationships based on inner truth have the power to endure any challenge.
For those seeking love, this hexagram suggests that being completely authentic will attract the right partner. Don't hide your true self or pretend to be someone you're not. Your genuine nature is your greatest attraction, and only through honesty can you find someone who truly appreciates you.
The inner truth of iching hexagram 61 in love means that trust and sincerity are more important than passion or romance. Focus on building genuine understanding with your partner, and let your relationship develop from a foundation of mutual honesty and respect.
Career & Business (事业)
Professionally, hexagram 61 signals that integrity and honest communication are the keys to success. This is the ideal time to build trust with colleagues, clients, and partners through consistent truthfulness and reliable action. Your reputation for sincerity will become your greatest professional asset.
For business matters, this hexagram represents the importance of transparent dealings and genuine value creation. Avoid shortcuts or deceptive practices - they will undermine your long-term success. Instead, focus on building authentic relationships and delivering real value to others.
In career development, iching hexagram 61 suggests that advancement comes through demonstrating consistent integrity and earning the trust of others. Your ability to understand situations deeply and communicate honestly will open doors to new opportunities and leadership roles.
Health & Wellness (健康)
Health-wise, hexagram 61 represents the connection between inner truth and physical well-being. Your body responds to genuine self-care and honest acknowledgment of your needs. Listen to your inner wisdom about what truly supports your health, rather than following external pressures or trends.
The inner truth of this hexagram supports mental and emotional health through authentic self-expression and honest relationships. Suppressing your true feelings or living inauthentically creates stress and illness. Express yourself genuinely and surround yourself with people who accept your authentic self.
For those dealing with health challenges, iching hexagram 61 encourages honest communication with healthcare providers and truthful assessment of your condition. Understanding the real nature of your health situation, without denial or exaggeration, is essential for effective healing.
Financial Matters (财运)
Financially, hexagram 61 indicates that honest dealings and transparent transactions bring lasting prosperity. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes or deceptive financial practices. Your financial success will come through building trust and delivering genuine value in all your economic activities.
This hexagram favors those who conduct business with complete integrity and transparency. While this approach may seem slower than more aggressive tactics, it builds a solid foundation for long-term financial security and attracts opportunities based on your reputation for honesty.
The key to financial success with iching hexagram 61 is aligning your economic activities with your true values and capabilities. Pursue financial goals that genuinely reflect your authentic interests and skills, rather than chasing money for its own sake.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
On a personal level, hexagram 61 represents a time of developing deeper self-understanding and authentic self-expression. You have the opportunity to align your outer life with your inner truth, creating greater integrity and wholeness in your character and actions.
This hexagram encourages you to examine your beliefs and values honestly, discarding what is not genuinely yours and embracing what truly resonates with your inner nature. Personal growth comes from living in accordance with your authentic self, not from conforming to external expectations.
The challenge of iching hexagram 61 is learning to trust your inner wisdom while remaining open to genuine understanding of others. True personal development involves both deepening your self-knowledge and expanding your capacity for authentic connection with the world around you.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
The timing associated with hexagram 61 is favorable for building trust and establishing genuine connections. This is not a time for aggressive action or forceful persuasion, but rather for patient cultivation of understanding and sincere communication.
The best advice for those receiving this hexagram is to speak and act from your heart with complete honesty. Trust that genuine sincerity has the power to influence situations positively, even when immediate results are not apparent. Consistency in truthfulness builds influence over time.
Embrace authenticity in all your dealings, but remember that inner truth requires both honest expression and genuine understanding of others. The power of this hexagram comes from the combination of sincere self-expression and empathetic listening to the truth in others.