Hexagram 1 · Qian / Heaven (乾) palace · Metal (金) · Primary (本宮) · Six-clash
Qian · Heaven
Hexagram 1, Qian · Heaven, has Qian / Heaven (乾) above Qian / Heaven (乾). It belongs to the Qian / Heaven (乾) palace, whose reference element is Metal (金).
Updated
Qian has six yang lines, giving it a strongly active and self-directed image. Self and Other are both Parent lines, so the two sides can share concerns about responsibility while holding firmly to their own positions. All five relationship categories are visible. Its six-clash structure adds a different emphasis: speed, movement and dispersal can matter more than lasting stability. Read that tension between initiative and continuity before calling the hexagram simply powerful or fortunate.
Relationships
The matching Parent roles can suggest that both sides hold established views or carry family and practical responsibilities. Six-clash symbolism raises questions about distance, differing positions and continuity. It can frame a wish to reach a clear decision, but it does not tell you to separate or prove what another person feels. Actual interaction and any moving lines remain essential.
Money
The Wealth line is at line 2, Yin Wood, so a money question has a visible focus. The six-clash pattern is traditionally associated with quick turnover rather than easy retention. Self being Parent places attention on work and responsibilities as well as resources. This describes a symbolic tension; it is not a recommendation to trade quickly or a forecast of returns.
Career
Self at the top is Xu Earth Parent, suggesting responsibility and a preference for directing matters. The Officer line at line 4, Wu Fire, provides the career focus. The six-clash pattern calls attention to changing plans, personnel or conditions, so a short, clearly defined task and a long-term position should not be read as the same question.
Health
Officer at line 4 and Child at line 1 provide the traditional pressure and relief roles. The six-clash theme suggests paying attention to change rather than assuming a stable situation. These symbols cannot identify an illness or its course. Use actual symptoms and medical assessment to decide what care is needed.
Health themes are traditional symbolism, not a diagnosis. Seek medical care for symptoms or concerns.
These themes describe the static structure. A particular cast also needs its moving lines, month and day, and focus-line context. The same hexagram can support different interpretations in different situations.
Judgment and Image
Judgment乾：元，亨，利，貞。
Image天行健，君子以自強不息。
The brief Judgment presents an initiating force associated with development and steadiness of purpose. The Image uses Heaven’s continuing motion as a model for sustained effort. This is an ethical and symbolic reading of the Chinese text, not a promise that relentless action is always appropriate.
The Chinese Judgment is from the Zhou Yi; the Image is from the Image commentary. The displayed Chinese was collated against the recorded sources. This English explanation is our own, not a quotation from a modern translation. Read the Chinese source (opens a new tab).
The six lines: branches, Self/Other and relationships
Use the table to inspect each line’s branch, relationship and Self/Other role. To create your own cast, open the Six-line I Ching tool and cast three coins six times.
Qian / Heaven (乾) above Qian / Heaven (乾) · Self: line 6 · Other: line 3
| Line | Figure | Branch | Element | Relationship | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line 6 | Yang | Xu (戌) | Earth (土) | Parent (父母) | Self (世) |
| Line 5 | Yang | Shen (申) | Metal (金) | Sibling (兄弟) | — |
| Line 4 | Yang | Wu (午) | Fire (火) | Officer (官鬼) | — |
| Line 3 | Yang | Chen (辰) | Earth (土) | Parent (父母) | Other (應) |
| Line 2 | Yang | Yin (寅) | Wood (木) | Wealth (妻財) | — |
| Line 1 | Yang | Zi (子) | Water (水) | Child (子孫) | — |
Swipe sideways to view the full table
Explore each layer: branch assignment in Na Jia, question categories in focus selection, and line positions in Self and Other.
Six Spirits depend on the casting day and are omitted from this static library. Hidden spirits are not calculated. A specific cast adds its Six Spirits, moving lines and resulting hexagram.
Reading the structure
Hexagram 1, Qian · Heaven, has Qian / Heaven (乾) above Qian / Heaven (乾). It belongs to the Qian / Heaven (乾) palace, whose reference element is Metal (金).
This is the Primary (本宮) stage. Self is line 6: Xu (戌), Earth (土), Parent (父母). Other is line 3: Chen (辰), Earth (土), Parent (父母). Self locates the questioner’s side; Other locates the counterpart or target. They do not by themselves determine an outcome.
The palace element is the reference for the Five Relationships: what generates it is Parent; what it generates is Child; what controls it is Officer; what it controls is Wealth; the same element is Sibling. These are symbolic subject roles, not necessarily literal family members.
All five relationship categories appear in the visible lines, so each subject category has a direct structural reference. This does not establish a favorable outcome or predictive accuracy.
This is a six-clash hexagram: lines 1/4, 2/5 and 3/6 clash in all three pairs. Traditional themes include speed, dispersal and change. Whether continuity or closure is being sought matters; the flag alone is not a verdict.
Frequently asked questions
- Do six yang lines guarantee a strong outcome?
- They describe an active image, not universal success. The Self/Other roles, six-clash structure, moving lines and casting date still need context.
- Does six-clash always mean separation or failure?
- No. Dispersal can be unwelcome when seeking continuity and relevant when seeking closure. The question determines how that theme is used.
- Do all five categories make the reading accurate?
- They make the subject categories directly available in the static chart. Availability is not a validated accuracy rate or a guarantee.
Explore one question
Form one clear question and cast six lines. No birth information is needed. The free chart includes Six Spirits, moving lines and a resulting hexagram when applicable; the result page explains the available reading options.
Cast a hexagramNew to casting? Read the beginner’s I Ching guide for the three steps, example questions and how to distinguish primary and resulting hexagrams.
The library is for learning and reflection. It is not medical, legal or financial advice.