First Nine (初九)
Resting in oneself brings good fortune; seeking elsewhere brings none.
Peace comes when you stop looking outward for validation. Ground yourself in your own integrity, and you will find stability.
Hexagram 61
Zhōng Fú 中孚
Upper · Xùn (Wind) | Lower · Duì (Lake)
Inner sincerity · trust · authenticity · influence · communication · centered faith
What does Hexagram 61 mean?
Hexagram 61, Zhōng Fú (中孚), is about inner sincerity, trust, and authenticity. True sincerity reaches even the most unreasoning creatures. When your inner conviction is genuine and unshakeable, it naturally influences those around you and opens the way forward.
The Judgment
"Kung Fu moves even pigs and fish, and leads to good fortune."
True sincerity reaches even the most unreasoning creatures. When your inner conviction is genuine and unshakeable, it naturally influences those around you and opens the way forward. Crossing great difficulties becomes possible when your heart is aligned with truth.
The Lines
Second Nine (九二)
The crane calls from her hidden place; her young answer her. I have good wine to share; you will join me in it.
Genuine feeling travels far and touches hearts naturally. When your sincerity is true, others respond without hesitation or doubt.
Third Six (六三)
Meeting an adversary—now drumming, now stopping; now weeping, now singing.
Relationships without true foundation are unstable and contradictory. Inconsistency reveals the absence of real trust beneath the surface.
Fourth Six (六四)
The moon nearly full; the horse's companion disappears—yet there is no blame.
Loyalty to a greater purpose may require personal sacrifice, but integrity remains untouched. Serve with sincerity, and you will be free from fault.
Fifth Nine (九五)
Sincerity binds all together; there is no error.
When trust is woven through every connection, harmony prevails. Your genuine commitment creates bonds that hold firm.
Top Nine (上九)
The rooster's cry rises to heaven—yet even with correctness, misfortune comes.
Outward show without inner truth leads to ruin. Eloquence and display cannot substitute for the substance of a sincere heart.
Hexagram 61 FAQ
What does Hexagram 61 mean for career?
Your authenticity is your strongest asset in any profession. Let your genuine commitment to your work speak louder than polished words. When you act from true conviction, others sense it and trust you—this trust becomes the foundation of real advancement and influence.
What does Hexagram 61 mean for love and relationships?
Sincere affection moves the heart far more than flattery or grand gestures ever could. Show up with honesty and consistency; let your actions reflect what you truly feel. A relationship built on genuine care can weather any storm, while one built on pretense crumbles at the first test.
What does Hexagram 61 mean for study and personal growth?
Seek real understanding rather than surface knowledge. When you learn with genuine curiosity and apply what you discover with integrity, your growth becomes contagious—others around you feel inspired to learn more deeply too. Depth of understanding opens doors that mere memorization cannot.
What does Hexagram 61 mean for business and money?
Build your enterprise on authentic value, not clever marketing alone. Customers sense whether you truly believe in what you offer. When your sincerity is evident in every interaction, trust becomes your most valuable currency, and loyalty follows naturally.
What should I be careful about with Hexagram 61?
Beware of letting appearance overshadow substance. Eloquent words without genuine feeling behind them will eventually be exposed and damage your credibility. Always align your inner truth with your outer expression; inconsistency erodes trust faster than any single mistake could.
What if Hexagram 61 has changing lines?
Read the line statement for each changing line above. With two or more changing lines, Zhu Xi’s rules decide which text leads the reading.
Original English translation by James Legge, 1882 (Public Domain). Editorial adaptation © Yijing.