Héng Perseverance Endurance [hexagram 32]

Yin line Yin line Yang line Yang line Yang - controlling line Yin line

Constant

Thunder over Wind/Wood
Wood Wood element

Wind/Wood Thunder
[42] Increase; Gain
Opposite
Lake Mountain
Xián [31] Reaction; Influence
Inverse
Lake Heaven
Guài [43] Eruption; Breakthrough
Mutual

Lunar month: 7 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
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恒: , , , . Héng: hēng, wú jiù, lì zhēn, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.

Heng indicates successful progress and no error (in what it denotes). But the advantage will come from being firm and correct; and movement in any direction whatever will be advantageous.

: 恒, . , , , , 恒. 恒, ; , , 恒. , . , , , , , ; 观恒, 矣! Tuàn zhuàn: Héng, jiǔ yě. Gāng shàng ér róu xià, léi fēng xiāng yǔ, xùn ér dòng, gāng róu jiē yīng, héng. héng hēng wú jiù, lì zhēn; jiǔ yú qí dào yě, tiān dì zhī dào, héng jiǔ ér bù yǐ yě. lì yǒu yōu wǎng, zhōng zé yǒu shǐ yě. Rì yuè dé tiān, ér néng jiǔ zhào, sì shí biàn huà, ér néng jiǔ chéng, shèng rén jiǔ yú qí dào, ér tiān xià huà chéng; guān qí suǒhéng, ér tiān dì wàn wù zhī qíng kě jiàn yǐ!

Heng denotes long continuance. The strong (trigram) is above, and the weak one below; (they are the symbols of) thunder and wind, which are in mutual communication; (they have the qualities of) docility and motive force; their strong and weak (lines) all respond, each to the other: - these things are all found in Heng. (When it is said that) 'Heng indicates successful progress and no error (in what it denotes); but the advantage will come from being firm and correct,' this indicates that there must be long continuance in its way of operation. The way of heaven and earth is to be long continued in their operation without stopping. (When it is said that) 'Movement in any direction whatever will be advantageous,' this implies that when (the moving power) is spent, it will begin again. The sun and moon, realizing in themselves (the course of Heaven), can perpetuate their shining. The four seasons, by their changing and transforming, can perpetuate their production (of things). The sages persevere long in their course, and all under the sky are transformed and perfect. When we look at what they continue doing long, the natural tendencies of heaven, earth, and all things can be seen.

: , 恒; . Xiàng zhuàn: Léi fēng, héng; jūn zǐ yǐ lì bù yì fāng.

(The trigram representing) thunder and that for wind form Heng. The superior man, in accordance with this, stands firm, and does not change his method (of operation).

young yin young yin young yang young yang young yang changing yin
I Ching transform
Thunder
Heaven
Dà zhuàng [34] Powerful; Great strength
Change
: 浚恒, , . Chū liù: jùn héng, zhēn xiōng, wú yōu lì.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows its subject deeply (desirous) of long continuance. Even with firm correctness there will be evil; there will be no advantage in any way.

: 浚恒, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jùn héng zhī xiōng, shǐ qiú shēn yě.

‘The evil attached to the deep desire for long continuance (in the subject of the first line)’ arises from the deep seeking for it at the commencement (of things).

young yin young yin young yang young yang changing yang young yin
I Ching transform
Thunder
Mountain
Xiǎo guò [62] Overstep; Small preponderance
Change
: . Jiǔ èr: huǐ wáng.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows all occasion for repentance disappearing.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ èr huǐ wáng, néng jiǔ zhōng yě.

‘All occasion for repentance on the part of the subject of the second ‘nine’, (undivided,), disappears:’ - he can abide long in the due mean.

young yin young yin young yang changing yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Thunder
Water
Xiè [40] Disentangle; Relief
Change
: , 羞, 吝. Jiǔ sān: bù héng qí dé, huò chéng zhī xiū, zhēn lìn.

The third ‘nine’, undivided, shows one who does not continuously maintain his virtue. There are those who will impute this to him as a disgrace. However firm he may be, there will be ground for regret.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Bù héng qí dé, wú suǒ róng yě.

‘He does not continuously maintain his virtue:’ - nowhere will he be borne with.

young yin young yin changing yang young yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Wind/Wood
Shēng [46] Ascent; Growing up
Change
: 禽. Jiǔ sì: tián wú qín.

The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows a field where there is no game.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ fēi qí wèi, ān dé qín yě.

(Going) for long to what is not his proper place, how can he get game?

young yin changing yin young yang young yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Lake
Wind/Wood
Dà guò [28] Surpassing; Excess
Change
: 恒, , , . Liù wǔ: héng qí dé, zhēn, fù rén jí, fū zǐ xiōng.

The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows its subject continuously maintaining the virtue indicated by it. In a wife this will be fortunate; in a husband, evil.

: , . , . Xiàng zhuàn: Fù rén zhēn jí, cóng yī ér zhōng yě. fū zǐ zhì yì, cóng fù xiōng yě.

‘Such firm correctness in a wife will be fortunate:’ - it is hers to the end of life to follow with an unchanged mind. The husband must decide what is right, and lay down the rule accordingly: - for him to follow (like) a wife is evil.

changing yin young yin young yang young yang young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Wind/Wood
Dǐng [50] Containment; Creation
Change
: 振恒, . Shàng liù: zhèn héng, xiōng. .

The topmost ‘six’, divided, shows its subject exciting himself to long continuance. There will be evil.

: 振恒, . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn héng zài shàng, dà wú gōng yě.

‘The subject of the topmost line is exciting himself to long continuance:’ - far will he be from achieving merit.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also