Hexagrams Within Hexagrams: Unlocking the Inner Structure of the I Ching with Mutual and Reversed Readings

A single I Ching hexagram is not a static symbol. It contains many layers of meaning with hidden patterns waiting to be found.

For students who want to go beyond basic readings, understanding this complexity is key. Learning to see hexagrams within the hexagram helps you move from beginner to advanced analysis. This is how you explore the inner structure of the i ching itself.

This guide will explain two powerful traditional methods for finding these hidden dimensions. These methods give you a way to understand any reading much more deeply.

• 互卦 (Hù Guà) - Mutual Hexagrams: This shows the "story within the story" or the core process at work.
• 综卦 (Zōng Guà) - Reversed Hexagrams: This reveals the "opposite point of view" or alternative reality of your situation.

By learning these two approaches, you'll move beyond simply identifying a hexagram to truly understanding its complete message.

The Core Matter: Mutual Hexagrams (互卦 Hù Guà)

The primary hexagram tells you about your current situation. The Mutual Hexagram reveals what's happening beneath the surface.

What is a Mutual Hexagram?

The Mutual Hexagram shows the internal state of the primary hexagram. It represents the engine of change.

Think of it as the core issue or the seed of the future hidden in your present situation. While the main hexagram describes the external reality, the Mutual Hexagram shows the internal forces driving things forward.

This is not a new idea. Scholars have used this method for centuries to find deeper meanings in the Book of Changes. It shows an essential layer of meaning in any reading.

Deriving a Mutual Hexagram

Finding the Mutual Hexagram follows a clear process. You extract the two middle, overlapping parts from the primary hexagram.

1. The Lower Mutual Trigram comes from lines 2, 3, and 4 of the original hexagram.

2. The Upper Mutual Trigram comes from lines 3, 4, and 5 of the original hexagram.

3. These two new trigrams combine to form the complete Mutual Hexagram, with the Lower Mutual Trigram on the bottom.

The structure looks like this:

Primary Hexagram:
Line 6
Line 5 --- Upper Mutual Trigram
Line 4 --- Upper & Lower Mutual Trigram
Line 3 --- Upper & Lower Mutual Trigram
Line 2 --- Lower Mutual Trigram
Line 1

This overlapping center is the heart of the matter, showing where the situation's energy comes from.

Case Study: Hexagram 63

Let's look at an example: Hexagram 63, Jì Jì, or "After Completion."

Step 1: The Primary Reading

Hexagram 63 shows a state of perfect order and success. Every line is in its "right" place—Yang lines in odd positions, Yin lines in even positions. It shows a moment of perfect balance. The situation is complete, but this perfection means any change will lead to imperfection. It warns against being too comfortable.

Step 2: Deriving the Mutual Hexagram

Now, we look inside Hexagram 63 to understand what's driving it.

• Lines 2, 3, and 4 are Yin, Yang, Yin. This forms the trigram Kǎn (☵), which means Water or Danger.

• Lines 3, 4, and 5 are Yang, Yin, Yang. This forms the trigram Lí (☲), which means Fire or Clarity.

When we combine these, with Kǎn below and Lí above, we get Hexagram 64, Wèi Jì, or "Before Completion."

Step 3: The Deeper Insight

This reveals something important. At the very heart of "After Completion" (Hexagram 63) lies the seed of "Before Completion" (Hexagram 64).

The inner structure tells us that within a perfectly ordered situation, a new process is already starting. The moment you arrive is also the moment you begin to leave. This changes the reading from simple success to wise advice: don't rest on your success. Inside, you're already facing the next challenge. Every end contains a new beginning, and seeing this hidden pattern helps you handle the situation wisely.

Seeing from the Other Side: Reversed Hexagrams (综卦 Zōng Guà)

If the Mutual Hexagram shows the inside of a situation, the Reversed Hexagram shows its reflection or opposite side.

What is a Reversed Hexagram?

The Reversed Hexagram, or Zōng Guà, is what you see when you turn the original hexagram upside down. You read the lines from top to bottom instead of bottom to top.

It symbolizes the opposing viewpoint. It can show the other person's perspective, the "shadow" of your situation, or what happens if the energy completely flips.

The Zōng Guà answers the question: "What's the alternative?" It makes you think about forces that aren't dominant now but are still connected to your situation.

Identifying the Reversed Hexagram

The method is simple: flip the hexagram. The top trigram becomes the new bottom trigram, and the bottom becomes the new top.

For many hexagrams, this creates a completely new one, showing an important pair. For others, the hexagram stays the same, which is also meaningful.

Symmetrical hexagrams (like 1, 2, 27, 28, 29, 30, 61, and 62) have no different reversed form. This means the situation is the same no matter how you look at it. A deep valley is a deep valley whether you're going in or coming out. This stability of meaning is a message by itself.

Case Study: Hexagram 11

Let's look at the relationship between Hexagram 11, Tài, or "Peace," and its opposite.

The Primary Reading

Hexagram 11 is one of the most lucky hexagrams. It has Heaven (☰) below and Earth (☷) above. The creative, heavenly energy naturally rises, and the receptive, earthly energy naturally falls. Their meeting in the middle shows perfect communication, harmony, flow, and good fortune. It's a time of prosperity and unity.

The Reversed Perspective

When we flip Hexagram 11, we get its Zōng Guà: Hexagram 12, Pǐ, or "Standstill."

In Hexagram 12, Heaven is above and Earth is below. Their natural movements now take them away from each other. The creative energy keeps rising and the receptive energy keeps sinking, creating a growing gap between them. This shows blockage, stagnation, poor communication, and decline.

The Deeper Insight

By understanding "Standstill," we gain a much deeper appreciation for "Peace." It shows that peace isn't just a default state. It's an active achievement that comes from good communication between opposing forces.

The possibility of "Standstill" is always hiding behind "Peace." The moment communication stops, the moment the two forces stop engaging, the situation flips to its shadow side. This analysis of the inner structure of the i ching shows that harmony needs constant effort and that its opposite, stagnation, is always possible.

Synergistic Analysis: Weaving Readings Together

True expertise in I Ching interpretation comes from combining approaches. Using these techniques together gives you a complete view of your situation.

A Multi-Layered Approach

We can create a powerful, four-step framework that combines these perspectives into one complete story. This method lets you address a situation from every important angle.

1. The Situation (Primary Hexagram): What is the current state of affairs? This is your starting point.

2. The Opposite Context (Reversed Hexagram): What is the alternative or shadow of this situation? What must be avoided to maintain the present state?

3. The Internal Process (Mutual Hexagram): What is happening "under the hood"? What hidden force is driving the situation forward?

4. The Synthesis: How do these three perspectives combine to tell a complete story? What advice emerges when you see the situation, its opposite, and its core all at once?

A Complete Walkthrough

Let's apply this framework to a common question: "I am starting a new creative project. What are the prospects and what should I be aware of?"

Imagine you receive #53, 漸 (Jiàn), "Development / Gradual Progress."

Here's how we would conduct a full analysis.

This combined reading gives advice that is not only deep but also practical and specific to your situation.

Conclusion: Embracing the Depth

The I Ching is far more than a simple book of answers. It's a deep system of psychological, philosophical, and cosmic insight, designed to show the patterns of change.

Your Journey into Structure

By going beyond the surface of a single hexagram, you begin to use the text as its creators intended. Using Mutual (Hù Guà) and Reversed (Zōng Guà) hexagrams isn't a trick; it's the key to unlocking the complex system inside. You can now explore the inner structure of the i ching in a way that is both meaningful and life-changing.

This is the path to a deeper relationship with the oracle. It's a journey from seeing a static picture to understanding a living, breathing process.

Practice these techniques. Be patient. Let the hexagrams reveal their hidden stories to you.