Hexagram 24 · Return

复 · Fù

Hexagram 24, Return (复, Fù), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Thunder below and Earth above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “亨。出入无疾，朋来无咎。反复其道，七日来复，利有攸往。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with return and renewal — the turning point. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Thunder (震) — arousal and decisive motion
Upper trigram: Earth (坤) — receptivity and support
Symbol: ䷗ · Name: 复 (Fù) · Number: 24 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   不远复，无祗悔，元吉。
   The Image says: “不远”之“复”，以修身也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   休复，吉。
   The Image says: “休复”之“吉”，以下仁也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   频复，厉无咎。
   The Image says: “频复”之“厉”，义“无咎”也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   中行独复。
   The Image says: “中行独复”，以从道也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   敦复，无悔。
   The Image says: “敦复，无悔”，中以自考也。
6. Top line (yin) (上六)
   迷复，凶，有灾眚。用行师，终有大败；以其国，君凶，至于十年不克征。
   The Image says: “迷复”之“凶”，反君道也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 24?

Hexagram 24 is Return (复, Fù), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Thunder below and Earth above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Return?

The judgment of Return reads, in the Chinese original: “亨。出入无疾，朋来无咎。反复其道，七日来复，利有攸往。”. Its Great Image reads: “雷在地中，复。先王以至日闭关，商旅不行，后不省方。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Return symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Return is associated with return and renewal — the turning point. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.