Hexagram 1 · The Creative

乾 · Qián

Hexagram 1, The Creative (乾, Qián), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Heaven below and Heaven above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “元亨利贞。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with creative power, initiative and steadfast strength. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Heaven (乾) — creative strength and initiative
Upper trigram: Heaven (乾) — creative strength and initiative
Symbol: ䷀ · Name: 乾 (Qián) · Number: 1 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   潜龙，勿用。
   The Image says: “潜龙，勿用”，阳在下也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   见龙再田，利见大人。
   The Image says: “见龙再田”，德施普也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   君子终日乾乾，夕惕若，厉无咎。
   The Image says: “终日乾乾”，反复道也。
4. 九四 (九四)
   或跃在渊，无咎。
   The Image says: “或跃在渊”，进无咎也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   飞龙在天，利见大人。
   The Image says: “飞龙在天”，“大人”造也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   亢龙有悔。
   The Image says: “亢龙有悔”，盈不可久也。
7. Bonus line (yang) (用九)
   见群龙无首，吉。
   The Image says: “用九”，天德不可为首也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 1?

Hexagram 1 is The Creative (乾, Qián), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Heaven below and Heaven above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Creative?

The judgment of The Creative reads, in the Chinese original: “元亨利贞。”. Its Great Image reads: “天行健，君子以自强不息。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Creative symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Creative is associated with creative power, initiative and steadfast strength. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.