Hexagram 55: Abundance (Fullness) (豐 Fēng) — I Ching Guide

Q: What is I Ching Hexagram 55 (豐 Abundance (Fullness))?

I Ching Hexagram 55, 豐 (Fēng), represents Abundance (Fullness). It is formed by Thunder (震 Zhèn) above, Fire (離 Lí) below. The core teaching of this hexagram is captured in its Judgment: 'Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday....'

Q: What does the Image of Hexagram 55 mean?

The Image states: 'Both thunder and lightning come: the image of Abundance. Thus the superior man decides lawsuits and carries out punishments.' 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 55 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 Abundance (Fullness) 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 55 and other hexagrams?

Hexagram 55 (Abundance (Fullness)) follows Hexagram 54 in the traditional King Wen sequence, forming a meaningful progression. Its nuclear hexagram and opposite/complementary hexagram provide additional dimensions of meaning.

Oriens

豐

Fēng — Hexagram 55

Abundance (Fullness)

Thunder (震 Zhèn) above, Fire (離 Lí) below

Published July 22, 2026 · By Oriens

Summary

I Ching Hexagram 55, 豐 (Fēng), represents Abundance (Fullness). Formed by Thunder (震 Zhèn) above, Fire (離 Lí) below, this hexagram teaches about abundance (fullness). The core message: Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday..

Key Takeaways

Hexagram 55 is formed by Thunder (震 Zhèn) above, Fire (離 Lí) 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

Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday.

— I Ching, Abundance (Fullness)

The Image

Both thunder and lightning come: the image of Abundance. Thus the superior man decides lawsuits and carries out punishments.

— I Ching, Image

The Six Lines

Line 1: Line 1: When a man meets his destined ruler, they can be together ten days, and it is not a mistake. Going meets with recognition.\nLine 2: The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at midday. Going brings mistrust. He is slandered. If he remains true, good fortune comes.\nLine 3: The underbrush is of such abundance that the small stars can be seen at midday. He breaks his right arm. No blame.\nLine 4: The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at midday. He meets his ruler, who is of like kind. Good fortune.\nLine 5: Lines are coming. Blessing and fame draw near. Good fortune.\nLine 6: His house is in a state of abundance. He screens off his family. He peers through the gate and no longer perceives anyone. For three years he sees nothing. Misfortune.

Modern Application

Hexagram 55 is the hexagram of peak fullness — the sun at midday, the summer solstice of experience. Thunder above Fire means clarity (fire) energizing action (thunder). But abundance carries a hidden warning: the sun at midday immediately begins to decline. The hexagram teaches that times of plenty require wisdom, generosity, and awareness of impermanence. The 'curtain of fullness' that obscures the stars at midday represents how abundance can blind us — to others' suffering, to our own limits, to the approaching decline. The final line's image of the man who screens himself off in his abundance and sees nothing for three years is a stark warning against the isolation of wealth and success.

Related Guides

Chinese Philosophy Complete Guide

All major schools of Chinese thought

Taoism for Beginners

A practical guide to Taoist philosophy

Confucianism for Beginners

A practical guide to Confucian philosophy

Buddhism for Beginners

A practical guide to Buddhist philosophy

Stoicism for Beginners

A practical guide to start practicing Stoicism