Still hexagram (six still lines)

The simplest hexagram has no moving line, and the Target line is present in it — that is a Still hexagram (six still lines). Reading such a hexagram is very easy: just refer the Self line and the Target line to each other to see how they stand, then refer the Self and Target lines to the Day and the Month to know their Strength: Prosperous is success and Weak is failure, in the case where the Self line does not control the Target line.

Only the Strength of the Target line and of the Self line

Unless it falls into notions not yet covered, such as Void, Month Break, Hidden movement or the Hidden line, a Still hexagram is simply a matter of judging the Strength of the Target line and the Strength of the Self line, and then:

Target Prosperous, Self Prosperous

If the question is about an event with no continuing character, such as a loan, a house or a person, then apart from the Self line controlling the Target line, the matter is certain to succeed. But with a matter of a continuing character, the case of the Target line controlling the Self line is ruled out as well: if the Target line controls the Self line and one doesn't change one's stance, it is the image of illness arising as the time spent living with the matter grows longer. Which part of the body the illness affects depends in turn on the element of the Target line and where it is.

Target Weak

With a Weak Target line the matter asked about is certain to fail, however Prosperous the Self line may be; and there, if the Self line is Prosperous and falls on the Opposing line, the matter asked about brings grave consequences of one's own making, while apart from the Opposing line it all reports a matter that fails but with little damage done.

Target Resting

With a Resting Target line, the matter asked about is spoilt if it is near; if it can be waited for, it divides in turn into a matter one can take in hand and a matter one has to wait out. For a matter one has to wait out, if it is far off, then at Birth or at Peak the matter succeeds after all; and for a matter one can take in hand, the moment comes when Birth or Peak arrives (judge the moment as Day, Month or Year according to the scale, and note that it cannot be judged by the Hour).

Self Weak, Target Prosperous

Apart from the Opposing line sitting on the Self line, which is the sticky rice spoilt and the popped rice gone, the cases divide into non-continuing events and continuing events.

Non-continuing events divide in turn into a Parents Target line and the rest. A Parents Target line always requires absolutely that the Self line and the Target line both be Prosperous, while all other matters report a wearying matter that will nonetheless succeed, though the road from failure to success is very hard. Note too that if the Self line is very Weak it is the image of illness; which illness depends on the position and the element of the Self line, and if it hasn't broken out yet it must be guarded against at once, since waiting until it breaks out leaves nothing to be done.

Continuing events are different: a Weak Self line always reports that one's health is already poor, and except in the case of the Draining line sitting on the Self line, one should go and get that illness examined at once to avoid the risk. With the Draining line on the Self line, it reports instead a matter in which one's own ability is poor but luck carries it through — but one should still go and be examined.

All in all, a Weak Self line is the image of being unwell; with the Flying Serpent added it is the image of depression and long-running stress; with the Hooked Array it is the image of heaviness and weariness; the Black Tortoise is ambition turned to weariness of life; the Green Dragon on Water is pleasure that should be kept in check. Note this.

See also

• Self line — the Self and Target relation
• Strength, Day Branch and Month Command (Ri Chen, Yue Ling)
• Single moving line, Several moving lines
• Six Spirits — Flying Serpent, Hooked Array, Black Tortoise, Green Dragon