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Meaning and Context
In any I Ching reading, the primary hexagram is your starting point. It is the hexagram you cast initially, before any moving lines transform it.
- Also called: Ben Gua (本卦), original hexagram, starting hexagram
- Represents: The present situation, current dynamics, where you are now
- Relationship: If moving lines exist, the primary hexagram changes into the "changed hexagram"
- Reading: The primary hexagram's judgment and image describe your current circumstances
Think of it as
If divination is a story, the primary hexagram is Chapter 1—where you begin. The changed hexagram (if any) is where the story is heading.
Classical Roots
The Xici establishes that the hexagram image captures the essence of a situation:
From Yijing · Xici
「八卦成列，象在其中矣。」
Plain translation
"When the eight trigrams are arranged, the images are within them." The primary hexagram captures the complete image of your situation.
In the Plum Blossom tradition, the relationship between hexagrams is described:
From Meihua Yishu
「体卦为主，用卦为宾。」
Plain translation
"The body hexagram (primary) is the host; the function hexagram is the guest." The primary hexagram represents you or the main subject of inquiry.
Structure and Components
The primary hexagram has all the standard hexagram components:
- Six lines: Each either Yin or Yang, read from bottom to top
- Upper trigram (lines 4-6): Represents outer/heaven aspects
- Lower trigram (lines 1-3): Represents inner/earth aspects
- Hexagram name and number: One of the 64 hexagrams
- Judgment (卦辞): The overall meaning and advice
- Image (象辞): The symbolic picture and conduct guidance
Moving lines (if any) are marked within the primary hexagram. These are the lines that will flip to create the changed hexagram.
How to Read It
Reading the primary hexagram:
- Identify which of the 64 hexagrams you have received
- Read the hexagram judgment for overall meaning
- Study the image for symbolic guidance
- Note the upper and lower trigrams and their interaction
- If moving lines exist, read their individual line texts
- Then proceed to the changed hexagram for the trajectory
Priority
Always understand the primary hexagram thoroughly before moving to the changed hexagram. The primary hexagram is your foundation.
How It Shows Up in FateFolio
In FateFolio's I Ching tool:
- Primary hexagram displayed prominently as the main result
- Six lines shown clearly with Yin/Yang identification
- Moving lines highlighted within the primary hexagram
- Judgment and image texts provided with interpretation
- Visual transition to changed hexagram if applicable
Common Misconceptions
Common misunderstandings about the primary hexagram:
- Skipping it to focus only on the changed hexagram
- Not reading the full judgment and image texts
- Ignoring the trigram relationships within the hexagram
- Treating it as less important than the changed hexagram—both matter
Sources and Quotes
FAQ
Do I always get a changed hexagram?
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No. You only get a changed hexagram if your cast produces one or more moving lines. If all lines are stable (young Yin or young Yang), there is no changed hexagram—only the primary hexagram.
A reading with no moving lines indicates a stable situation described entirely by the primary hexagram.
Which is more important: primary or changed hexagram?
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Both are important, but they serve different purposes. The primary hexagram describes your current situation—where you are now. The changed hexagram (if present) shows where things are heading.
Think of the primary as the diagnosis and the changed hexagram as the prognosis. You need both for a complete picture.