䷞ Xian Xián
Core Meaning
The Xian hexagram reveals the wisdom of influence and communication. 'Xian, is to feel', influence is the essence. 'Lake over mountain', the lake nurtures the mountain, the mountain supports the lake, mutual influence. 'The soft is above and the firm is below, the two energies influence and unite with each other', yin and yang interact. 'Heaven and Earth interact and all things are born, the sage influences hearts and the world becomes peaceful', the importance of influence. 'The superior person accepts others with an open mind', one should be humble and receptive to influence others. Influence has levels: Initial Six 'influencing his thumb' is the most superficial; Nine in the fourth place, heart's influence is best, 'perseverance is auspicious, regret vanishes'; Top Six 'influencing his cheeks and tongue' is just verbal, 'mere talk'. 'Man humbles himself before woman', one must be humble, 'auspicious to take a wife'.
The Judgment
Xian, breakthrough, advantageous to persevere, auspicious to take a wife.
Interpretation:
The Xian hexagram symbolizes influence and attraction, smooth progress, beneficial for upholding rectitude, and auspicious for taking a wife.
The Image
There is a lake on the mountain, Xian; the superior person accepts others with an open mind.
Structure
The Xian hexagram has Gen below and Dui above. Gen is mountain and represents stopping, Dui is lake and represents joy. There is a lake on the mountain, the lake water moistens the mountain rocks, and the mountain rocks receive the lake water, mutually influencing each other. 'Xian, is to feel', it is the hexagram of mutual influence. 'The soft is above and the firm is below, the two energies influence and unite with each other', yin softness is above, yang firmness is below, yin and yang interact. 'Stopping and being pleased', inner stillness and outer joy. 'Man humbles himself before woman', the young man is below the young woman, pursuing with humility. This hexagram, from bottom to top, successively represents the thumb (toes), calf (lower leg), thigh (upper leg), heart, back (spine), cheek and tongue (mouth), symbolizing influences from shallow to deep.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial Six: Influencing his thumb.
Six in the second place: Influencing his calf, ominous, but auspicious if remaining still.
Nine in the third place: Influencing his thigh, holding onto what he follows, regrettable to proceed.
Nine in the fourth place: Perseverance is auspicious, regret vanishes, coming and going restlessly, friends follow your thoughts.
Nine in the fifth place: Influencing his back, no regret.
Top Six: Influencing his cheeks and tongue.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
Career requires attention to influence and communication. 'Xian, is to feel', success comes from being able to understand the needs of others. 'Accept others with an open mind', humbly accept others. Nine in the fourth place, the heart's influence is best, 'perseverance is auspicious, regret vanishes', sincere communication. But avoid the superficiality of Initial Six 'influencing his thumb', 'the intent is outward' only wishing outwards without depth. The impulsiveness of Six in the second place 'influencing his calf', 'ominous if not still but auspicious if remaining still' requires restraint. The blind following of Nine in the third place 'holding onto what he follows', 'regrettable to proceed' shows lack of independent judgment. Top Six 'influencing his cheeks and tongue' is just speaking, 'mere talk'. 'Heaven and Earth interact and all things are born', true influence can create value.
❤️ Relationships
The core of relationships is sincere influence. 'Xian, is to feel', mutual influence is necessary for love. 'The soft is above and the firm is below', 'man humbles himself before woman', the man should be humble, 'auspicious to take a wife'. 'Stopping and being pleased', inner peace and outer joy. Nine in the fourth place 'perseverance is auspicious, regret vanishes', sincere heart's influence is best, 'coming and going restlessly, friends follow your thoughts', although coming and going are restless, friends will understand. Avoid the superficiality of Initial Six 'influencing his thumb', the impulsiveness of Six in the second place requires 'remaining still for auspiciousness', and the blind following of Nine in the third place 'holding onto what he follows'. Nine in the fifth place 'influencing his back, no regret', the influence on the back is relatively superficial. Top Six 'influencing his cheeks and tongue' is just empty talk.
🎯 Decision Making
Decision-making requires attention to influence and communication. 'Observe that which affects, and the affections of heaven and earth and all things may be seen', understand the true situation through influence. 'Accept others with an open mind', humbly accept all opinions. 'The two energies influence and unite with each other', promote communication and interaction. Nine in the fourth place, the heart's influence is most important, 'perseverance is auspicious' requires sincerity. 'Stopping and being pleased', inner peace allows for accurate influence. Avoid the superficiality of 'influencing his thumb', the impulsiveness of 'influencing his calf', the blind following of 'holding onto what he follows', and the empty talk of 'influencing his cheeks and tongue'. 'The sage influences hearts and the world becomes peaceful', true influence leads to success.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest danger is insincere or superficial influence. Initial Six 'influencing his thumb', 'the intent is outward', influence only on the toes is too shallow. Six in the second place 'influencing his calf, ominous', influence on the calf is too impulsive, one must 'remain still for auspiciousness' to control. Nine in the third place 'holding onto what he follows, regrettable to proceed', blindly following others, 'the intent is to follow what others hold', lacks independent judgment. Nine in the fifth place 'influencing his back', 'the intent is superficial', influencing the back is still shallow. Top Six 'influencing his cheeks and tongue', 'mere talk', just verbal expression is the most insincere. Nine in the fourth place 'coming and going restlessly', 'not yet grand and bright', the mind is unsettled and not sufficiently open and upright. One needs sincere and deep influence.
Applicable Scenarios
The Xian hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
Bo Ya and Zi Qi's 'knowing sound' exemplifies the spirit of the Xian hexagram. Bo Ya played the zither, Zi Qi listened intently, 'the two energies influencing and uniting with each other', the zither's sound and the soul resonated. Bo Ya's 'intent was on high mountains', Zi Qi said 'how majestic, like Mount Tai'; Bo Ya's 'intent was on flowing water', Zi Qi said 'how vast, like a river'. 'Observe that which affects, and the affections of heaven and earth and all things may be seen', through the influence of music, they understood each other. This was not the verbal communication of 'influencing his cheeks and tongue', but the spiritual influence of 'perseverance is auspicious, regret vanishes'. 'Accept others with an open mind', they humbly accepted each other. After Zi Qi's death, Bo Ya broke his zither strings, a 'knowing sound' was hard to find. This is the wisdom of the Xian hexagram: sincere influence, hearts connected, true companionship is rare.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Xian hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: