Difficulty at the Beginning
Teaching & Wisdom
Key Takeaway: The core teachings of Change (I Ching) offer practical wisdom for life.
The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing. Understanding the patterns of change allows one to act in harmony with circumstances. The I Ching has been consulted for over three thousand years. Its core insight is that change follows identifiable patterns -- by understanding them, one can act at the right time. Key teachings include: • Hexagram 1 · Heaven over Heaven • Hexagram 2 · Earth over Earth • Hexagram 3 · Water over Thunder • Hexagram 4 · Mountain over Water • Hexagram 5 · Water over Heaven
Within the Chinese philosophical tradition, as recorded in the classical texts that have shaped East Asian thought for millennia, Difficulty at the Beginning (易) represents a key insight in Chinese Philosophy.
— Oriens
What Wisdom Cards Explore Change (I Ching)?
The Creative
Hexagram 1 · Heaven over Heaven
The Receptive
Hexagram 2 · Earth over Earth
Difficulty at the Beginning
Hexagram 3 · Water over Thunder
Youthful Folly
Hexagram 4 · Mountain over Water
Waiting
Hexagram 5 · Water over Heaven
Conflict
Hexagram 6 · Heaven over Water
The Army
Hexagram 7 · Earth over Water
Holding Together
Hexagram 8 · Water over Earth
Small Taming
Hexagram 9 · Wind over Heaven
Treading
Hexagram 10 · Heaven over Lake
Peace
Hexagram 11 · Earth over Heaven
Standstill
Hexagram 12 · Heaven over Earth
Fellowship
Hexagram 13 · Heaven over Fire
Great Possession
Hexagram 14 · Fire over Heaven
Modesty
Hexagram 15 · Earth over Mountain
Enthusiasm
Hexagram 16 · Thunder over Earth
Following
Hexagram 17 · Lake over Thunder
Decay
Hexagram 18 · Mountain over Wind
Approach
Hexagram 19 · Earth over Lake
Contemplation
Hexagram 20 · Wind over Earth
Biting Through
Hexagram 21 · Fire over Thunder
Grace
Hexagram 22 · Mountain over Fire
Splitting Apart
Hexagram 23 · Mountain over Earth
Return
Hexagram 24 · Earth over Thunder
Innocence
Hexagram 25 · Heaven over Thunder
Great Taming
Hexagram 26 · Mountain over Heaven
Nourishment
Hexagram 27 · Mountain over Thunder
Great Excess
Hexagram 28 · Lake over Wind
The Abyss
Hexagram 29 · Water over Water
Fire
Hexagram 30 · Fire over Fire
Influence
Hexagram 31 · Lake over Mountain
Endurance
Hexagram 32 · Thunder over Wind
Retreat
Hexagram 33 · Heaven over Mountain
Great Power
Hexagram 34 · Thunder over Heaven
Progress
Hexagram 35 · Fire over Earth
Darkening of the Light
Hexagram 36 · Earth over Fire
The Family
Hexagram 37 · Wind over Fire
Opposition
Hexagram 38 · Fire over Lake
Obstruction
Hexagram 39 · Water over Mountain
Deliverance
Hexagram 40 · Thunder over Water
Decrease
Hexagram 41 · Mountain over Lake
Increase
Hexagram 42 · Wind over Thunder
Breakthrough
Hexagram 43 · Lake over Heaven
Coming to Meet
Hexagram 44 · Heaven over Wind
Gathering Together
Hexagram 45 · Lake over Earth
Pushing Upward
Hexagram 46 · Earth over Wind
Oppression
Hexagram 47 · Lake over Water
The Well
Hexagram 48 · Water over Wind
Revolution
Hexagram 49 · Lake over Fire
The Cauldron
Hexagram 50 · Fire over Wind
The Arousing
Hexagram 51 · Thunder over Thunder
Keeping Still
Hexagram 52 · Mountain over Mountain
Development
Hexagram 53 · Wind over Mountain
The Marrying Maiden
Hexagram 54 · Thunder over Lake
Abundance
Hexagram 55 · Thunder over Fire
The Wanderer
Hexagram 56 · Fire over Mountain
The Gentle
Hexagram 57 · Wind over Wind
The Joyous
Hexagram 58 · Lake over Lake
Dispersion
Hexagram 59 · Wind over Water
Limitation
Hexagram 60 · Water over Lake
Inner Truth
Hexagram 61 · Wind over Lake
Small Excess
Hexagram 62 · Thunder over Mountain
After Completion
Hexagram 63 · Water over Fire
Before Completion
Hexagram 64 · Fire over Water
Frequently Asked Questions
Difficulty at the Beginning
Difficulty at the Beginning is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 3 · Water over Thunder
Hexagram 3 · Water over Thunder is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Youthful Folly
Youthful Folly is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 4 · Mountain over Water
Hexagram 4 · Mountain over Water is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 5 · Water over Heaven
Hexagram 5 · Water over Heaven is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 6 · Heaven over Water
Hexagram 6 · Heaven over Water is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 7 · Earth over Water
Hexagram 7 · Earth over Water is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Holding Together
Holding Together is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 8 · Water over Earth
Hexagram 8 · Water over Earth is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Small Taming
Small Taming is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 9 · Wind over Heaven
Hexagram 9 · Wind over Heaven is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Hexagram 10 · Heaven over Lake
Hexagram 10 · Heaven over Lake is an important topic in Chinese Philosophy. The core principle of the I Ching: reality is dynamic and constantly changing Exploring this question reveals deeper insights into how the tradition approaches wisdom and understanding.
Learn more about Change (I Ching)
Change (I Ching) — Full Explanation