易經 · I Ching · #61
䷼
Zhong Fu · Center Returning · Inner Truth
中孚
Inner truth — sincerity lands deeper than performance. Mean what you say.
The Judgment
Honest trust reaches even the hardest hearts. Openness and sincerity move things forward.
The Image
Wind over the lake, so the wise person weighs matters carefully and shows mercy.
How to use it
Be sincere and open. Trust grows when you listen first.
Structure
Six lines: 巽 Wind (Xun) above and 兌 Lake (Dui) below. Lines are read from the bottom up.
Related hexagrams
- ䷽ 62. Small Exceeding · Small Preponderance — Opposite: every line reversed
- ䷚ 27. Swallowing · Nourishment — 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.