I Ching Hexagram 1 - Heaven
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 1 "Heaven"
乾 - Qián
Thuần Càn
Heaven
Upper Trigram: ☰ Qián, Heaven
Lower Trigram: ☰ Qián, Heaven
Other Titles: The Creative, The Dynamic, The Symbol of Heaven, The Creative Principle, Force, The Key, Creativity, The Originating, Creative Power, Yang.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: The Creative works sublime success, furthering through perseverance.
Legge: The Dynamic represents what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and firm.
Blofeld: The Creative Principle . Sublime Success! Persistence in a righteous course brings reward.
Liu: The Creative brings great success, benefiting all through perseverance.
Shaughnessy: The Key. Primary reception; beneficial to determine.
Cleary: The creative is successful; this is beneficial if correct.
Wu: The Originator is primordial, pervasive, prosperous and persevering.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: The movement of heaven is full of power. Thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring.
Legge: Heaven, in its motion, gives the idea of strength. The superior man, in accordance with this, nerves himself to ceaseless activity.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes the power of the celestial forces in motion, wherewith the Superior Man labors unceasingly to strengthen his own character.
Liu: Heaven moves powerfully; the superior man strengthens himself unceasingly.
Cleary: The activity of heaven is powerful; superior people thereby strengthen themselves ceaselessly.
Wu: Heaven moves in full strength. Thus the jun zi strives ceaselessly to be self-reliant.
Line 1
初 九: 潛 龍 勿 用
Wilhelm/Baynes: Hidden dragon. Do not act.
Legge: In the first line, dynamic, we see its subject as the dragon lying hid in the deep. It is not the time for active doing.
Blofeld: The concealed dragon refrains from action.
Liu: The hibernating dragon does not act.
Shaughnessy: Submersed dragon; do not use.
Cleary: Hidden dragon: Do not use it.
Wu: The dragon lying submerged is not to be used.
Line 2
九 二 : 見 龍 在 田 ． 利 見 大 人 ．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Dragon appearing in the field. It furthers one to see the great man.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows the dragon appearing in the field. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
Blofeld: The dragon is perceived in an open place; it is advantageous to visit a great man.
Liu: The dragon is seen on the field. There is benefit in meeting a great man.
Shaughnessy: Appearing dragon in the fields; beneficial to see the great man.
Cleary: Seeing the dragon in the field: It is beneficial to see a great person.
Wu: There appears the dragon in the field. It will be advantageous to see the great man.
Line 3
九 三: 君 子 終 日 乾 乾, 夕 惕 若. 厲, 无 咎.
Wilhelm/Baynes: All day long the superior man is creatively active. At nightfall his mind is still beset with cares. Danger. No blame.
Legge: In the third line, dynamic, we see its subject as the superior man
active and vigilant all the day, and in the evening still careful and
apprehensive. The position is dangerous, but there will be no mistake.
Blofeld: The superior man busies himself the whole day through and evening finds him thoroughly alert. Trouble threatens, but he is not at fault.
Liu: The superior man works creatively the whole day, and is cautious in the evening. Danger. No blame.
Shaughnessy: The gentleman throughout the day is so initiating; at night he is ashen as if in danger; there is no trouble.
Cleary: A superior person works diligently all day, is careful at night. Danger, but no error.
Wu: The jun zi should follow the way of The Dynamic all day long. He should keep himself alert in the day as well as in the evening. If so, he will be free from error, despite alarming situations.
Line 4
九 四: 或 躍, 在 淵, 无 咎.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Wavering flight over the depths. No blame.
Legge: In the fourth dynamic line we see its subject as the dragon looking as if he were leaping up, but still in the deep. There will be no mistake.
Blofeld: Leaping about on the brink of a chasm, he is not at fault.
Liu: The dragon leaps from the abyss. No blame.
Shaughnessy: And now jumping in the depths; there is no trouble.
Cleary: One may leap in the abyss. No error.
Wu: The dragon may leap out of the abyss. There will be no blame.
Line 5
九 五 : 飛 龍 在 天 , 利 見 大 人.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Flying dragon in the heavens. It furthers one to see the great man.
Legge: The fifth dynamic line shows its subject as the dragon on the wing in the sky. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
Blofeld: The dragon wings across the sky; it is advantageous to visit a great man.
Liu: The dragon flies in the heavens. There is benefit in meeting a great man.
Ritsema/Karcher: Flying dragon located-in heaven. Harvesting: visualizing Great People.
Shaughnessy: Flying dragon in the heavens; beneficial to see the great man.
Cleary (1): The flying dragon is in the sky: it is beneficial to see a great person.
Cleary (2): … Beneficial to see great people.
Wu: The flying dragon is in the sky. It will be advantageous to see the great man.
Line 6
上 九 ． 亢 龍 有 悔.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Arrogant dragon will have cause to repent.
Legge: The sixth dynamic line shows its subject as a dragon exceeding the proper limits. There will be occasion for repentance.
Blofeld: A willful dragon has cause for regret.
Liu: The dragon is arrogant and will have cause to repent.
Shaughnessy: Resisting dragon; there is regret.
Cleary (1): A proud dragon has regrets.
Cleary (2): At the peak, the dragon has regret.
Wu: The arrogant dragon will have regret.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 1 represents the primal force of pure yang energy, symbolizing the beginning of all things.
Qian is the Creative, it is the image of Heaven and a symbol of pure Yang energy. It represents both strength and determination. It is creative and active, perpetually flowing and never stopping.
This image represents a powerful dragon; one to be respected. It also symbolizes a strong leader with great substance and authority.
If you receive this message, is is auspicious. It is a very favorable time because everything goes your way. You are proceeding in the right direction at the right time. Others will look to you for confident leadership and you will benefit from them in return. Success is assured if your motives are earnest.
the terms "superior man" or "great man" refer to an idealized and virtuous individual who embodies qualities of wisdom, integrity, compassion, courage and moral strength. These terms are often used in the commentary and teachings associated with the I Ching to describe the kind of person one should aspire to be in order to navigate life successfully and ethically.
The dragon, in the context of the I Ching, is often associated with a symbol of power, strength, and transformation. The symbolism of the dragon is deeply rooted in Chinese and Vietnamese culture, and some interpretations draw connections between the dragon and certain hexagrams or concepts within the I Ching. Dragons can be seen as spiritual beings with connections to celestial realms. Dragons are often associated with cosmic forces and the balance of yin and yang energies. The I Ching, too, is deeply rooted in the concept of balance and the interplay of opposites.