Hexagram 31: Influence (Wooing) (咸 Xián) — I Ching Guide

Q: What is I Ching Hexagram 31 (咸 Influence (Wooing))?

I Ching Hexagram 31, 咸 (Xián), represents Influence (Wooing). It is formed by Lake (兌 Duì) above, Mountain (艮 Gèn) below. The core teaching of this hexagram is captured in its Judgment: 'Influence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune....'

Q: What does the Image of Hexagram 31 mean?

The Image states: 'A lake on the mountain: the image of Influence. Thus the superior man encourages people to approach him by his readiness to receive them.' This teaches that the superior person responds to the hexagram's situation by cultivating the corresponding inner quality.

Q: How do the six lines of Hexagram 31 develop its meaning?

The six lines trace a progression through the hexagram's situation. Starting from the bottom (Line 1) through Line 6, each position reveals a different aspect of how Influence (Wooing) manifests — from initial stirrings to the final outcome. Key lines include the ruler of the hexagram and the culminating line.

Q: What is the relationship between Hexagram 31 and other hexagrams?

Hexagram 31 (Influence (Wooing)) follows Hexagram 30 in the traditional King Wen sequence, forming a meaningful progression. Its nuclear hexagram and opposite/complementary hexagram provide additional dimensions of meaning.

Oriens

咸

Xián — Hexagram 31

Influence (Wooing)

Lake (兌 Duì) above, Mountain (艮 Gèn) below

Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens

Summary

I Ching Hexagram 31, 咸 (Xián), represents Influence (Wooing). Formed by Lake (兌 Duì) above, Mountain (艮 Gèn) below, this hexagram teaches about influence (wooing). The core message: Influence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune..

Key Takeaways

Hexagram 31 is formed by Lake (兌 Duì) above, Mountain (艮 Gèn) below, combining two of the eight trigrams into a unique archetypal situation
The Judgment reveals the hexagram's core teaching through a concise, oracular statement
The six lines trace a progression from initial conditions through to the culmination and outcome
The Image connects the natural symbolism of the trigrams to the conduct of the superior person
This hexagram's wisdom applies to modern situations involving

The Judgment

Influence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.

— I Ching, Influence (Wooing)

The Image

A lake on the mountain: the image of Influence. Thus the superior man encourages people to approach him by his readiness to receive them.

— I Ching, Image

The Six Lines

Line 1: Line 1: The influence shows itself in the big toe.

Line 2: Line 2: The influence shows itself in the calves of the legs. Misfortune. Tarrying brings good fortune.

Line 3: Line 3: The influence shows itself in the thighs. Clings to that which it follows. To continue is humiliating.

Line 4: Line 4: Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. If a man is agitated in mind, and his thoughts go hither and thither, only those friends on whom he fixes his conscious thoughts will follow.

Line 5: Line 5: The influence shows itself in the back of the neck. No remorse.

Line 6: Line 6: The influence shows itself in the jaws, cheeks, and tongue.

Modern Application

Hexagram 31 is the first hexagram of the Lower Canon and opens the section on human relationships. It describes influence not as manipulation but as natural attraction — the way a lake on a mountain draws people upward. The hexagram traces influence through the body from toe to tongue, symbolizing how genuine connection begins physically and rises to conscious expression. In modern terms, this is the hexagram of emotional intelligence, genuine leadership, and the art of attracting rather than pursuing. The image teaches that openness and receptivity are the foundation of all influence.

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