Hexagram 31: Influence
Mutual attraction, courtship
| Chinese | 咸 (Xián) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☱ Lake — The Joyous (Metal) |
| Lower trigram | ☶ Mountain — Keeping Still (Earth) |
| Keywords | influence, attraction, courtship, sensitivity |
| Opposite | Hexagram 41: Decrease |
| Inverted | Hexagram 32: Duration |
What does Hexagram 31 (Influence) mean?
Influence 咸 (Xián) is hexagram 31 of the I Ching, formed by Lake (The Joyous) over Mountain (Keeping Still). Its theme is mutual attraction, courtship, with key ideas of influence, attraction, courtship, sensitivity. The Judgment reads: “Influence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.”
The Judgment of Influence
Influence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.
The Image of Influence
A lake on the mountain.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 31
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Six at the beginning
“The influence shows itself in the big toe.”
The first stirring of attraction begins at the outermost, lowest point. An impulse not yet formed into intention needs no action.
Six in the second place
“The influence shows itself in the calves of the legs. Misfortune. Tarrying brings good fortune.”
Rushing forward on the first impulse of desire leads to trouble. Pausing allows the attraction to clarify and mature.
Nine in the third place
“The influence shows itself in the thighs. Holds to that which follows it. To continue is humiliating.”
Letting desire pull you along without reflection leads to loss of self-direction. Pursuing what merely beckons brings embarrassment.
Nine in the fourth place
“Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. If a man is agitated in mind, and his thoughts go hither and thither, only those friends on whom he fixes his conscious thoughts will follow.”
Focused, conscious intent draws the right response. Scattered attraction draws nothing of value.
Nine in the fifth place
“The influence shows itself in the back of the neck. No remorse.”
Deep, involuntary attraction — felt in the core rather than the surface — is honest and carries no regret.
Six at the top
“The influence shows itself in the jaws, cheeks, and tongue.”
Influence expressed only in words rather than in the whole person is the shallowest form. Persuasion without embodied sincerity achieves little.
Will Influence answer your question?
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