Hexagram 61 · Inner Truth

中孚 · Zhōng Fú

Hexagram 61, Inner Truth (中孚, Zhōng Fú), is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It is formed by Lake below and Wind above. Its judgment reads, in the Chinese original: “豚鱼吉，利涉大川，利贞。”. In the classical tradition this hexagram is associated with inner truth — sincerity that reaches others. This page collects its structure, judgment, Image and six line texts for cultural study.

Structure

Lower trigram: Lake (兑) — joy and open exchange
Upper trigram: Wind (巽) — gentleness and quiet penetration
Symbol: ䷼ · Name: 中孚 (Zhōng Fú) · Number: 61 of 64

Judgment (Chinese original)

The Image (Chinese original)

The Six Lines (Chinese original)

1. Bottom line (yang) (初九)
   虞吉，有他不燕。
   The Image says: 初九“虞吉”，志未变也。
2. 九二 (九二)
   鸣鹤在阴，其子和之；我有好爵，吾与尔靡之。
   The Image says: “其子和之”，中心愿也。
3. 六三 (六三)
   得敌，或鼓或罢，或泣或歌。
   The Image says: “或鼓或罢”，位不当也。
4. 六四 (六四)
   月几望，马匹亡，无咎。
   The Image says: “马匹亡”，绝类上也。
5. 九五 (九五)
   有孚挛如，无咎。
   The Image says: “有孚挛如”，位正当也。
6. Top line (yang) (上九)
   翰音登于天，贞凶。
   The Image says: “翰音登于天”，何可长也！

FAQ

What is I Ching Hexagram 61?

Hexagram 61 is Inner Truth (中孚, Zhōng Fú), one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is formed by Lake below and Wind above, and belongs to the classical Chinese textual tradition.

What is the judgment of Inner Truth?

The judgment of Inner Truth reads, in the Chinese original: “豚鱼吉，利涉大川，利贞。”. Its Great Image reads: “泽上有风，中孚。君子以议狱缓死。”. Translations vary by edition; the judgment and the Image are the core texts for understanding the hexagram.

What does Inner Truth symbolize?

In the classical tradition, Inner Truth is associated with inner truth — sincerity that reaches others. It is studied as cultural symbolism — a lens for reflection — not as a prediction of fortune or future events.