Xian 澤山咸
A time when hearts connect
You are drawn to each other and hearts connect. Reach out sincerely.
What does I Ching hexagram 31 (Influence) mean?
Mountain and lake responding to each other: a meeting of hearts. A hexagram of love in which sincerity gets through.
- Influence in love
- You are drawn to each other and respond in kind, a wonderful match.
- Influence at work and with money
- Open up and communicate sincerely and it becomes cooperation.
- Advice
- Respond with a pure heart.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Influence
Very auspicious“Success. It is fitting to persevere. Taking a wife brings good fortune.”
The Image: A lake on the mountain: influence. The noble person accepts people with an empty, open heart.
原文 · 亨。利貞。取女吉。 / 山上有澤，咸；君子以虛受人。
The six lines of hexagram 31
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初六
Neutral“Influence in the big toe.”
The very first sign of attraction, a small movement.
原文 · 咸其拇。
Line 2 · 六二
Caution“Influence in the calves: misfortune; staying still is lucky.”
Rushing on the first impulse is a mistake. Stay put.
原文 · 咸其腓，凶，居吉。
Line 3 · 九三
Caution“Influence in the thighs; holding on to what follows; going forward brings humiliation.”
You follow every impulse. Be more selective about what you go along with.
原文 · 咸其股，執其隨，往吝。
Line 4 · 九四
Auspicious“Perseverance brings good fortune and regret vanishes; anxious coming and going, and only your friends follow your thoughts.”
Real influence comes from a steady heart. Restless effort reaches only a few.
原文 · 貞吉悔亡，憧憧往來，朋從爾思。
Line 5 · 九五
Caution“Influence in the back of the neck: no regret.”
A deep, steady will that doesn’t chase approval is fine.
原文 · 咸其脢，无悔。
Line 6 · 上六
Neutral“Influence in the jaws, cheeks and tongue.”
Only talk, no deeper connection. Empty words.
原文 · 咸其輔，頰，舌。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 41. Sun (Decrease)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 32. Heng (Duration)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.