䷤ Family jiā rén
Core Meaning
The Family hexagram reveals the wisdom of family governance. Family is the basic unit of society; governing the country must first involve regulating the family. The Family hexagram emphasizes: rules must be established from the beginning, 'guarding the household' prevents future troubles; women should uphold their duties, 'attending to inner duties brings good fortune' means managing household affairs; discipline must be strict, 'harsh' treatment, though difficult, ultimately brings good fortune, while 'frivolous' indulgence leads to regret; wealth should be shared, 'the wealthy family, great good fortune' means the whole family benefits; influence should rely on virtue, 'the king arrives at his family' means leading by example; and authority must be based on sincerity, 'having sincerity, he inspires awe' means consistency in words and actions. The wisdom of the Family lies in: gender distinctions, order between elders and juniors, division of labor, and a balance of strictness and compassion. While modern families are more egalitarian, basic order and responsibility remain important. A good family requires rules, love, responsibility, and role models.
The Judgment
Auspicious for the perseverance of women.
Interpretation:
The Family hexagram symbolizes family harmony. It is beneficial for women to adhere to the right path. Family is the foundation of society. The woman manages the internal affairs and the man manages the external affairs, each performing their duties. When the family order is correct, the world will be stable.
The Image
Wind comes forth from fire, the image of Family; thus the superior man has substance in his words and consistency in his conduct.
Structure
The Family hexagram consists of Li (Fire) below and Xun (Wind) above, forming the image of Wind over Fire. Fire burning generates wind, and wind in turn fuels the fire, with internal and external complementing each other—a symbol of family harmony. The lower trigram Li represents civilization, and the upper trigram Xun represents obedience. Civilization and harmony are the ways of managing a household. The second line, Hexagram Liu, occupies the middle position of the inner trigram and represents the woman. The fifth line, Hexagram Jiu, occupies the middle position of the outer trigram and represents the man. The woman holds her correct place within the family, and the man holds his correct place outside the family; this is the great righteousness of heaven and earth. The Family hexagram emphasizes order and rules: father and son, elder brother and younger brother, husband and wife, each fulfilling their responsibilities. 'Guarding the household' means preventing troubles before they arise. 'Substance in words and consistency in conduct' means acting as one speaks. A family is maintained not only by love but also by rules. When the family order is correct, the world will be stable. Cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world—it all starts with the family.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
The first Nine: Guard the household. Regret vanishes.
The second Six: Take no undue action. Attend to the inner duties. Perseverance brings good fortune.
The third Nine: The family is harsh. Regret arises, but there is good fortune. If the wife and children are frivolous, there will be tribulation in the end.
The fourth Six: The wealthy family. Great good fortune.
The fifth Nine: The king arrives at his family. Do not worry. Good fortune.
The top Nine: Having sincerity, he inspires awe. Good fortune in the end.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
Team management is like managing a family, requiring order and rules. 'Guard the household' tells us to establish rules and regulations early to prevent problems. Divisions of labor should be clear, like 'the woman holds her correct place within, the man holds his correct place without,' each performing their duties. Someone needs to be responsible for internal affairs, 'attending to inner duties brings good fortune' means ensuring logistical support. Management must be strict; 'the family is harsh' may be uncomfortable but prevents indulgence. If 'the wife and children are frivolous,' harmonious but without rules, problems will eventually arise. Profits should be shared, 'the wealthy family, great good fortune' means shared team benefits. Leaders must win people over with virtue, 'the king arrives at his family' by inspiring the team with their own character. Building authority requires integrity, 'having sincerity, he inspires awe' by doing what one says. This applies to managing a family as well as managing a team: strict but fair, loving but with boundaries.
❤️ Relationships
Family and relationships require cultivation and rules. 'Substance in words and consistency in conduct' means keeping promises and maintaining consistent behavior. Good habits should be established from the start; 'guarding the household' means preventing bad habits from forming early on. Division of labor should be reasonable; 'the woman holds her correct place within' is not about devaluing women, but about mutual respect for different roles. Someone managing household affairs 'inner duties' is necessary; it's not about who is superior or inferior. Educating children should be strict; 'harsh' discipline, though painful, is better than 'frivolous' indulgence. A prosperous family benefits everyone; 'the wealthy family, great good fortune' means creating and enjoying together. Spouses should influence each other; 'the king arrives at his family' by treating each other with virtue. Parents should have authority, but it must be sincere; 'having sincerity, he inspires awe' means consistency in words and actions to command respect. True family harmony is love with rules, not indulgent pampering.
🎯 Decision Making
Decision-making should focus on order and rules. 'Wind comes forth from fire' means internal and external factors complement each other, so decisions must consider both. Establish rules from the beginning; 'guard the household' means taking preventive measures. Clarify responsibilities; it's important who is in charge, 'correct place' is crucial. Focus on one's duty; 'attending to inner duties brings good fortune' means doing one's part well. Management should be strict; 'harsh' is always better than 'frivolous' and loose. Share benefits; 'the wealthy family, great good fortune' means win-win and sharing. Leading by example is important; 'the king arrives at his family' means doing it yourself first. Establish authority through integrity; 'having sincerity, he inspires awe' means doing what you say. Remember: good decisions require rules, order, division of labor, and responsibility. These may seem rigid, but they are the foundation for long-term stability.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest warning of the Family hexagram is the importance of rules and order. 'If the wife and children are frivolous, there will be tribulation in the end' is the most dangerous situation. It seems harmonious but is actually indulgence. A family without rules will ultimately encounter problems. 'Guard the household' warns to prevent trouble before it arises, and not to wait until problems become serious. It is important for men and women to fulfill their respective duties; 'the woman holds her correct place within, the man holds his correct place without' is not discrimination but order. 'Attending to inner duties brings good fortune' means focusing on one's responsibilities, not overstepping. 'Harsh' may be uncomfortable, but it's better than indulgence. 'Having sincerity, he inspires awe' warns that authority must be built on integrity, otherwise it is tyranny. Be wary of: a superficial harmony without rules, indulgent pampering, inconsistency in words and actions, and authority without sincerity. Remember: when the family order is correct, the world will be stable. Managing a family needs love, but it needs rules even more. A balance of strictness and compassion can endure for a long time.
Applicable Scenarios
The Family hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
Confucius's management of his family was a model of the Family hexagram. Although he traveled extensively among the states, he was strict in his family management. 'Guard the household': he taught his son, Kong Li, from a young age to study the 'Book of Poetry' and the 'Book of Rites,' saying, 'Without studying the Poetry, one cannot speak; without studying the Rites, one cannot establish oneself.' 'Substance in words and consistency in conduct': he only asked others to do what he himself did. 'The family is harsh': his strict demands on his students, though difficult, led to the seventy-two sages. He emphasized 'let the ruler be a ruler, the minister be a minister, the father be a father, and the son be a son,' which is precisely the family spirit of 'father and son.' 'The king arrives at his family': he influenced his family and students with his virtue. 'Having sincerity, he inspires awe': he established his authority through integrity. He extended family ethics to society, advocating 'cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world,' believing that 'when the family order is correct, the world will be stable.' This is precisely the wisdom of the Family hexagram: establishing the family with rules, governing the family with virtue, educating the family through personal example, and balancing strictness with compassion.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Family hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: