I Ching Oracle Result: Transformation from Hexagram 22 with Changing Lines 1, 4, 5, 6 to Hexagram 31

Yin Yang symbol, representing balance

Yì Jīng’s Response: Hexagram 22.1.4.5.6 -> 31

Old Yang Old Yin Old Yin Young Yang Young Yin Old Yang

22. Adornment

Yin Yang Yang Yang Yin Yin

31. Resonance

22. Adornment (賁 Bì)

Trigrams

Above
☶ Gèn (Mountain) — 山 · Stillness
Below
☲ Lí (Fire) — 火 · Radiance

The Symbolism of Hexagram 22

Hexagram 賁 (Bì) describes the application of form, pattern, and appearance to what already exists. It is not substance itself, but the shaping of how something is presented and perceived.

Hexagram 22 Judgment

The Judgment reads:
Original Chinese:
賁，亨，小利有攸往。
(Bì, hēng, xiǎo lì yǒu yōu wǎng.)
English Translation:
"Adornment. Origin and smooth progress. It is favorable to proceed in small matters."

Adornment enhances but does not replace what is essential. It is effective only within limits.

Small actions that refine or present are appropriate. Larger undertakings fail if based on appearance alone.

Hexagram 22 Image

The Image reads:
Original Chinese:
山下有火，賁。君子以明庶政，无敢折獄。
(Shān xià yǒu huǒ, bì. Jūn zǐ yǐ míng shù zhèng, wú gǎn zhé yù.)
English Translation:
"Fire burns at the foot of the mountain: adornment. The superior person clarifies matters but does not decide judgments."

Fire illuminates the base of the mountain, revealing form without altering it. Adornment makes things visible and defined.

It is suited to clarification and presentation, but not to final decisions. Substance must precede judgment.

Line 1 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
賁其趾，舍車而徒。
(Bì qí zhǐ, shě chē ér tú.)
English Translation:
"Adorning the feet. Leaving the carriage and proceeding on foot."

Adornment begins at a basic level. One abandons unnecessary display.

Simplicity at the foundation allows movement without distortion.

Line 4 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
賁如皤如，白馬翰如，匪寇婚媾。
(Bì rú pó rú, bái mǎ hàn rú, fěi kòu hūn gòu.)
English Translation:
"Adorned in plainness. A white horse arrives swiftly. Not an intruder, but a joining."

Adornment becomes minimal and clean. What appears sudden is not hostile.

Clarity removes misinterpretation, allowing proper connection.

Line 5 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
賁于丘園，束帛戔戔，吝，終吉。
(Bì yú qiū yuán, shù bó jiān jiān, lìn, zhōng jí.)
English Translation:
"Adorning the hills and gardens. Small offerings, limited means. Some constrained outcome, but ending in a favorable outcome."

Adornment is modest and constrained. Resources are limited.

Though insufficient at first, sincerity within limitation leads to a favorable outcome.

Line 6 Changing

This line reads:
Original Chinese:
白賁，无咎。
(Bái bì, wú jiù.)
English Translation:
"Plain adornment. No error."

Adornment reaches its highest form by becoming minimal. Nothing excessive remains.

When appearance aligns completely with substance, no error occurs.

Changing to:

31. Resonance (咸 Xián)

Trigrams

Above
☱ Duì (Lake) — 澤 · Open
Below
☶ Gèn (Mountain) — 山 · Stillness

The Symbolism of Hexagram 31

Hexagram 咸 (Xián) describes resonance—how one system responds to another through sensitivity and internal alignment. Influence here is not applied force, but the natural transmission of signal between receptive structures.

The mountain below provides stability, while the lake above allows openness and exchange. Together, they form a system where stillness enables accurate reception, and openness allows response. This hexagram models how connection forms through responsiveness rather than control.

Hexagram 31 Judgment

The Judgment reads:
Original Chinese:
咸，亨，利貞。取女吉。
(Xián, hēng, lì zhēn. Qǔ nǚ jí.)
English Translation:
"Resonance brings smooth progress. It is favorable to remain correctly aligned. Forming a union brings favorable outcome."

This describes a state where mutual responsiveness allows connection to form naturally. Stability is required so that influence is not distorted or forced.

When alignment is genuine, union emerges without friction. The system holds together because its components respond to one another accurately.

Hexagram 31 Image

The Image reads:
Original Chinese:
山上有澤，咸。君子以虛受人。
(Shān shàng yǒu zé, xián. Jūn zǐ yǐ xū shòu rén.)
English Translation:
"The lake rests upon the mountain: resonance. The superior person remains inwardly open and receives others."

The mountain holds still while the lake responds to what it encounters. This pairing creates a system capable of sensing and responding without distortion.

Openness is not passivity, but clarity of reception. By remaining unfilled, one can register external influence accurately and respond appropriately.

Peace and wisdom on your journey!

With gratitude,
The I Ching Team