The Zhouyi Text: Structure and Content

This article examines the fundamental building blocks of the Zhouyi. We will detail its core components, including the 64 hexagrams (Gua), their associated judgments (Gua Ci or Tuan Ci), the individual line statements (Yao Ci), and touch upon the significance of the King Wen sequence in its arrangement.

The 64 Hexagrams (Gua)

The heart of the Zhouyi is its collection of 64 unique symbols known as hexagrams (卦, Gua). Each hexagram is composed of six lines stacked one above the other. As we saw with the mythical origins, these lines can be either:

• Solid (—): Representing Yang (active, firm, masculine, light).
• Broken (– –): Representing Yin (receptive, yielding, feminine, dark).

The combination of these six Yin or Yang lines creates 2⁶, or 64, possible configurations. Each hexagram is understood to represent a specific archetypal situation, process, or state of cosmic and human affairs. They are not static pictures but dynamic symbols of change and transformation.

Core Texts: Judgments and Line Statements

For each of the 64 hexagrams, the Zhouyi text provides two primary layers of interpretation:

1. The Hexagram Statement (卦辭, Gua Ci) or Judgment (彖辭, Tuan Ci): This is a short, often enigmatic or poetic phrase that provides an overall interpretation or name for the hexagram. It encapsulates the essence of the situation the hexagram represents and sometimes offers a general prognostication (e.g., "auspicious," "inauspicious," "no blame"). These are traditionally attributed to King Wen.
2. The Line Statements (爻辭, Yao Ci): Each of the six lines within a hexagram also has its own accompanying textual statement. These offer more specific interpretations related to that particular line's position and nature (Yin or Yang) within the hexagram. They provide nuanced insights into developing aspects or different roles within the broader situation. The line statements are traditionally attributed to the Duke of Zhou.

So, the basic Zhouyi consists of the 64 hexagram figures, 64 hexagram statements, and 384 line statements (6 lines x 64 hexagrams).

The King Wen Sequence

The 64 hexagrams are not arranged randomly in the Zhouyi. They follow a specific order known as the "King Wen sequence," named after its traditional originator. While the exact rationale behind this sequence is a subject of much scholarly debate and interpretation, it is not arbitrary. Many see in it a narrative flow, a progression of situations, or a pairing of hexagrams with their opposites or inversions. This sequence is fundamental to how the Zhouyi is traditionally studied and understood. For example, the text begins with Qian (Creative, Heaven) and Kun (Receptive, Earth), representing the primordial cosmic forces.