01 · The Creative (QIÁN)
Pure yang force moves without rest. Yet its six stages show that creative power must follow timing: hidden potential, emergence, vigilance, a tentative leap, full expression, and restraint at the peak.
The judgment
Qian: originating, thriving, beneficial, and steadfast.
Qian describes a complete cycle of creative power. Yuan is the originating impulse; heng is unobstructed development; li is benefit that allows things to find their proper place; zhen is steadfast correctness that preserves the result. Strength alone is insufficient—the whole process must remain aligned with what is right.
Original Chinese text
乾：元亨利貞。
The six lines
- 初九 · Line 1 — Hidden dragon. Do not act.
Original Chinese
潛龍勿用。
- 九二 · Line 2 — The dragon appears in the field. It is beneficial to meet a great person.
Original Chinese
見龍在田，利見大人。
- 九三 · Line 3 — The noble person works vigorously all day and remains watchful at night. There is danger, but no blame.
Original Chinese
君子終日乾乾，夕惕若，厲無咎。
- 九四 · Line 4 — Perhaps leaping from the depths. No blame.
Original Chinese
或躍在淵，無咎。
- 九五 · Line 5 — The flying dragon is in heaven. It is beneficial to meet a great person.
Original Chinese
飛龍在天，利見大人。
- 上九 · Line 6 — The overreaching dragon has regret.
Original Chinese
亢龍有悔。