Zhong Fu · Inner Truth
中孚卦 · 风泽中孚
- Sincerity
- Trust
- Integrity
- Influence
The Judgment
Kung Fu (moves even) pigs and fish, and leads to good fortune. There will be advantage in crossing the great stream. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
豚鱼，吉。利涉大川，利贞。
The Image
Wind over the lake: inner truth. The noble one, in the same way, deliberates carefully over legal cases and delays executions.
泽上有风，中孚。君子以议狱缓死。
Plain-language reading
Your situation
Your most important asset right now is sincerity. Zhong Fu is solid outside and open inside, like an open heart, a symbol of trust that comes from within. You may need to win someone's trust, or the sincerity on both sides of a relationship is being tested.
Where to put your effort
Treat people with a genuine heart and do what you say. Sincerity can move even the hardest-to-reach people; in the old text, even pigs and fishes are moved. Be a little more generous when making important judgements about others. Do not substitute technique for sincerity; once trust is built, it becomes your strongest support.
Four areas of life
- Career
- Some turbulence is unavoidable; be careful of lawsuits.
- Wealth
- Act cautiously and you can avoid disaster.
- Family
- Trouble from lawsuits; a marriage leads to a dispute.
- Health
- A scare, but no real danger.
Health notes come from traditional texts and are cultural reference only. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
The six lines
Read from the bottom up: the first line is at the bottom, the top line is at the top. Open each line for details.
Nine at the beginningThe first line, undivided, shows its subject resting (in himself). There will be good fortune. If he sought to any other, he would not find rest.Moving
初九：虞吉，有它不燕。
Image：Nine at the beginning, being prepared brings good fortune: the will has not changed.
- Career
- Single-minded focus achieves your goal.
- Wealth
- Stay with your core business and you will gain in time.
- Family
- No need to move; faithful to the end.
- Health
- Watch for complications; they would be dangerous.
Nine in the second placeThe second line, undivided, shows its subject (like) the crane crying out in her hidden retirement, and her young ones responding to her. (It is as if it were said), ‘I have a cup of good spirits,’ (and the response were), ‘I will partake of it with you.’Moving
九二：鸣鹤在阴，其子和之。我有好爵，吾与尔靡之。
Image：Its young answer: it is the wish of the heart.
- Career
- One calls and another answers; exactly what you hoped.
- Wealth
- Host and guest of one mind; both profit.
- Family
- An honoured family with dutiful children; husband and wife in step.
- Health
- A contagious illness.
Nine in the fifth placeThe fifth line, undivided, shows its subject perfectly sincere, and linking (others) to him in closest union. There will be no error.Moving
九五：有孚挛如，无咎。
Image：Sincerity that binds together: the position is right and proper.
- Career
- Balanced luck; what you ask for is granted.
- Wealth
- Working together, the business succeeds.
- Family
- A happy home; a lifelong, happy union.
- Health
- Limited mobility in hands and feet; living long with a chronic condition.
Nine at the topThe topmost line, undivided, shows its subject in chanticleer (trying to) mount to heaven. Even with firm correctness there will be evil.Moving
上九：翰音登于天，贞凶。
Image：The sound of wings rising to heaven: how could it last?
- Career
- All show and no substance; a cause for concern.
- Wealth
- Strong on the outside, weak within; the future is worrying.
- Family
- The family business is hard to keep; hard to grow old together.
- Health
- Very uncomfortable symptoms.
Related hexagrams
Judgment and line texts from the public-domain translation by James Legge (1882). Readings by DeepHeart AI.
Bring your own question to the AI
The classics speak in general terms; your situation is specific. Bring the question on your mind, cast a Plum Blossom Divination reading, and let the AI help you think it through.
Ask DeepHeart free →