Hexagram 61: Inner Truth
Integrity, sincerity
| Chinese | 中孚 (Zhōng Fú) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☴ Wind — The Gentle (Wood) |
| Lower trigram | ☱ Lake — The Joyous (Metal) |
| Keywords | truth, sincerity, integrity, understanding |
| Opposite | Hexagram 62: Small Exceeding |
| Inverted | Itself — the figure is symmetric |
What does Hexagram 61 (Inner Truth) mean?
Inner Truth 中孚 (Zhōng Fú) is hexagram 61 of the I Ching, formed by Wind (The Gentle) over Lake (The Joyous). Its theme is integrity, sincerity, with key ideas of truth, sincerity, integrity, understanding. The Judgment reads: “Inner Truth. Pigs and fishes. Good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.”
The Judgment of Inner Truth
Inner Truth. Pigs and fishes. Good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.
The Image of Inner Truth
Wind over lake.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 61
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“Being prepared brings good fortune. If there are secret designs, it is disquieting.”
Inner readiness grounded in genuine truth is auspicious. Hidden agendas corrupt the very sincerity that gives this hexagram its power.
Nine in the second place
“A crane calling in the shade. Its young answers it. I have a good goblet. I will share it with you.”
Authentic inner truth resonates outward without needing to be displayed. Like calls respond; genuine offering draws genuine reciprocity.
Six in the third place
“He finds a comrade. Now he beats the drum, now he stops. Now he sobs, now he sings.”
Relying on others for one's inner equilibrium creates instability — joy and sorrow follow the partner's mood rather than arising from one's own centre.
Six in the fourth place
“The moon nearly at the full. The team horse goes astray. No blame.”
Nearness to complete inner truth — the almost-full moon — allows one attachment to slip without lasting harm. The slight error in the last moment does not negate the whole.
Nine in the fifth place
“He possesses truth which links together. No blame.”
Inner truth so genuine and clear that it binds others to it without coercion is the mark of true spiritual authority. This bonding power carries no shadow of blame.
Nine at the top
“Cock-crow penetrating to heaven. Perseverance brings misfortune.”
Claiming to have penetrated to the highest truth through mere assertion — the cock crowing without the dawn — is hollow. Persisting in this pretension brings inevitable collapse.
Will Inner Truth answer your question?
Cast the three coins yourself — the I Ching reading is free, no account needed.
Cast the I Ching →