I Ching hexagram 61

I Ching hexagram 61: Inner Truth

中孚 zhōng fú · wind above a lake

A crane calls from the shade and her young answer: sincerity that reaches others before any word is explained.

The judgment: Trust that reaches even pigs and fish: good fortune. It pays to cross the great river. Firmness pays.
"Kung Fu (moves even) pigs and fish, and leads to good fortune. There will be advantage in crossing the great stream. There will be advantage in being firm and correct."
James Legge's translation, 1882
What it says to you: Over the lake the wind moves, stirring the water down to its depths: the image of sincerity that reaches even creatures that cannot reason. The judgment says it plainly. Truth that touches pigs and fish, the humblest beings, brings good fortune, and it carries you across the great river. In line two a crane calls from the shade and her young answer without seeing her, and the line ends with an invitation to share a good cup of wine. That is how inner truth works on people. It is felt before it is explained. If your question involves trust, persuade by being honest and consistent more than by argument. Watch line three's mood swings, drumming then weeping, which come from leaning on someone else for your center. Keep your words level with your deeds.

Matter by matter

Love: Deep sincerity, mutual answering. Speak from the heart; the right person hears it.
Work: Trust-building, honest leadership. Earn credibility before big moves; do not overpromise.
Money: Ventures built on trust succeed. Avoid claims bigger than your substance.
A yes or no question: Yes, with a condition. Act in good faith; sincerity carries you across.

The six lines of Inner Truth

A hexagram is built from the bottom up, so the first line is the lowest. You read a line's text only when your cast made it a moving line.

Bottom line, solid

Being prepared and settled brings good fortune. If there is something else, there is no peace.

Trust your own center and stay ready. If you start relying on outside schemes or hidden agendas, you will lose your calm. Keep your footing in yourself.
Second line, solid

A crane calls from the shade; its young answer. I have a fine cup of wine; I will share it with you.

What you truly feel reaches others even without display. Speak from the heart and those who belong with you will answer. Share what is good freely.
Third line, broken

He finds a counterpart. Now he drums, now he stops; now he weeps, now he sings.

Your mood is ruled by someone else, and it swings wildly. Notice that you have handed over your center. Get it back before the ups and downs wear you out.
Fourth line, broken

The moon is nearly full. The horse loses its mate. No mistake.

You are close to fullness. Let go of a partner or faction that pulls you sideways, and turn toward what is higher. The separation is right, and no harm comes of it.
Fifth line, solid

Trust that binds them together. No mistake.

Your sincerity holds people together like a firm grip. As the center of trust, you can lead. Keep being reliable; that bond is your real authority.
Top line, solid

The sound of wings climbs to heaven. Persisting brings misfortune.

Your words are flying higher than your substance. Claims without depth fall back to earth. Stop insisting, and bring what you say back in line with what you can actually do.

About hexagram 61

What does I Ching hexagram 61 mean?

Hexagram 61, Inner Truth, puts wind above a lake. A crane calls from the shade and her young answer: sincerity that reaches others before any word is explained. Its judgment reads: Trust that reaches even pigs and fish: good fortune. It pays to cross the great river. Firmness pays.

Is hexagram 61 a yes or a no?

Yes, with a condition. Act in good faith; sincerity carries you across.

What does hexagram 61 mean for love?

Deep sincerity, mutual answering. Speak from the heart; the right person hears it.

What does hexagram 61 mean for work?

Trust-building, honest leadership. Earn credibility before big moves; do not overpromise.

Cast the coins for a new question , or for a straight yes or no, throw the moon blocks

The I Ching reads a moment. For the years of your own life, cast your birth chart; on your chart page you can ask three questions of your own, answered against it, for $2.99.

The judgment and lines are rendered from the Chinese text; the quoted judgment is Legge's 1882 translation, and every other English line is Jade Almanac's own. A cast is a prompt for reflection, not advice about health, money or the law.