The I Ching, a method for reading change
Updated October 2026 · By Golden Lai
TL;DR
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, pairs the eight trigrams into 64 hexagrams, each with a judgement and a line text. It describes how a situation changes rather than a fixed fate. As an I Ching strategist, Golden Lai uses it to help people and companies see structure, timing and risk at a decision point.
Where the I Ching comes from
Tradition says Fu Xi drew the trigrams, King Wen ordered the hexagrams, the Duke of Zhou wrote the line texts, and Confucius and later scholars shaped the Ten Wings. That is tradition, not a proven chronology. The received text is traced to the Western Zhou, about three thousand years ago. Treat the date as approximate.
The eight trigrams
Qian is Heaven, Kun Earth, Zhen Thunder, Xun Wind, Kan Water, Li Fire, Gen Mountain and Dui Lake. A one word quality for each: strong, receptive, arousing, penetrating, danger, clarity, stillness, joy. Their elements: Qian and Dui metal, Zhen and Xun wood, Kan water, Li fire, Kun and Gen earth. The cycles are on the five elements page.
How the 64 hexagrams are built
An upper trigram sits on a lower one, six lines, read from the bottom. Old yin and old yang lines change and produce a second hexagram. The full list is on the 64 hexagrams page.
Judgements and line texts
The judgement is the text for the whole hexagram. A line text belongs to one line. The judgement of hexagram 1, yuan heng li zhen, can be read plainly as beginning, going through, benefit and holding steady. It is not a slogan about getting rich.
The I Ching and decisions
The scope is investment timing, partnerships, hires, moves and turning points. Judgement, not fate. Any moment in time and space can be the source of the hexagram. Custom space energy from SGD 2,000. Innate Bazi analysis from SGD 528. I Ching space and time from SGD 428. I Ching x health from SGD 99. Out of area feng shui has an extra service charge.
The I Ching and health
I Ching x health and nutrition talks about constitution, food and routine. It supports and never replaces medical care. Custom space energy from SGD 2,000. Innate Bazi analysis from SGD 528. I Ching space and time from SGD 428. I Ching x health from SGD 99. Out of area feng shui has an extra service charge.
Continue with the 64 hexagrams and how to ask the I Ching. Book on I Ching sessions. Trigram elements sit on Wu Xing, and the wider map is Chinese metaphysics.
Related pages
Questions
Is the I Ching fortune telling?
Not in the way this site uses it. It is for seeing how a situation can change and which moves are open. It does not declare an outcome as fate.
Do I need to read classical Chinese?
No. The link between a hexagram, its trigrams and your question can be said in modern language. The table gives pinyin and English names.
How is this different from Ba Zi?
Ba Zi reads long structure from a birth time. The I Ching reads one decision you are making now.