Hexagram 30 · The Clinging

离 · Lí

Hexagram 30, The Clinging (离, Lí), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Fire below and Fire above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “利贞，亨。畜牝牛，吉。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with clarity and fire — brightness that depends on fuel. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Fire (离) — clarity, radiance and dependence
Upper trigram: Fire (离) — clarity, radiance and dependence
Symbol: ䷝ · Name: 离 (Lí) · Number: 30 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   履错然，敬之，无咎。
   The Image says: “履错”之“敬”，以辟咎也。
2. 六二 (六二)
   黄离，元吉。
   The Image says: “黄离，元吉”，得中道也。
3. 九三 (九三)
   日昃之离，不鼓缶而歌，则大耋之嗟，凶。
   The Image says: “日昃之离”，何可久也！
4. 九四 (九四)
   突如其来如，焚如，死如，弃如。
   The Image says: “突如其来如”，无所容也。
5. 六五 (六五)
   出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。
   The Image says: 六五之“吉”，离王公也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   王用出征，有嘉折首，获匪其丑，无咎。
   The Image says: “王用出征”，以正邦也。

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 30?

Hexagram 30 is The Clinging (离, Lí), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Fire below and Fire above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of The Clinging?

The judgment of The Clinging reads, in the Chinese original: “利贞，亨。畜牝牛，吉。”. Its Great Image reads: “明两作，离。大人以继明照于四方。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does The Clinging symbolize?

In the classical tradition, The Clinging is associated with clarity and fire — brightness that depends on fuel. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.