易經 · I Ching · #31
䷞
Xian · Conjoining · Influence
咸
Influence through softness, not pressure. Invitation works better than demand.
The Judgment
Mutual attraction brings success. Influence works through openness, not pressure.
The Image
A lake on the mountain, so the wise person is approachable and ready to receive others.
How to use it
Be open and receptive. Invitation works better than demand.
Structure
Six lines: 兌 Lake (Dui) above and 艮 Mountain (Gen) below. Lines are read from the bottom up.
Related hexagrams
- ䷨ 41. Diminishing · Decrease — Opposite: every line reversed
- ䷟ 32. Persevering · Duration — Reversed: the same lines turned upside down
- ䷫ 44. Coupling · Coming to Meet — Inner (nuclear): the hidden structure formed by lines 2 to 5
Each BaZi pillar maps to a hexagram through its stem and branch. Coin casting uses a different method — both are valid paths into the Book of Changes. The I Ching is a traditional wisdom text. It describes the character of a moment, not a fixed outcome.