Hexagram 31
Influence (Attraction)
咸 (Xián)
Lake over Mountain
The image is of a lake high on a mountain. The mountain, symbolizing stillness and the youngest son, is stable and strong. The lake, symbolizing joy and the youngest daughter, is open and receptive above it. This represents the ideal of mutual influence: the strong, still masculine principle humbles itself, creating a foundation upon which the joyous, open feminine principle can rest. This is the natural, spontaneous magnetism between two complementary forces, the foundation of all true attraction and partnership.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
This hexagram is inherently auspicious, promising success through genuine connection. The influence described here is not manipulation or force, but a natural drawing-together. "Perseverance furthers" means staying true to this principle of mutual respect and receptivity. The reference to marriage symbolizes the favorable outcome of any new partnership or union that is founded on this kind of authentic, non-coercive attraction.
The Image (象传)
A mountain does not command the lake to be upon it; its stillness and stability naturally create a basin where water can joyfully gather. This is the model for a person of true influence. They do not force their will on others. Instead, they cultivate an inner state of openness, humility, and calm strength. This "emptiness" creates a welcoming space that naturally attracts others, inviting connection and partnership without effort.
Interpretation & Guidance
When you receive Hexagram 31, you are in a time ripe for new connections and partnerships. This could be a new romance, a business collaboration, or the attraction of a new idea. The key to success is receptivity. Let go of your agenda and your attempts to control the outcome. Instead, create an open and inviting space within yourself. Be still like the mountain, allowing others to approach you. Be joyous and open like the lake, responding freely to genuine connection. This is a time to trust the subtle, magnetic forces of life. Influence is not something you do; it is something you allow to happen through you.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"The influence shows itself in the big toe."
This is a fleeting, superficial impulse. An initial urge to move or connect, but it lacks depth and substance. The idea has not yet formed into a real intention. It is a mere twitch, not a committed step.
Six in the Second Place (六二)
Second line - Yin
"The influence shows itself in the calves. Misfortune. To tarry brings good fortune."
There is a strong desire to rush forward and act, but you are held back. Acting on this frustrated impulse would lead to misfortune. It is better to remain still and patient until a true, heartfelt connection can guide your movement.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"The influence shows itself in the thighs. Clings to what follows it. To continue is humiliating."
Your movement is not self-directed. You are merely following the lead of others, clinging to them without independent will. This lack of personal conviction and agency will lead to a shameful or humiliating outcome.
Nine in the Fourth Place (九四)
Fourth line - Yang
"Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. If a person is agitated and his thoughts go hither and thither, only those friends on whom he fixes his thoughts will follow him."
This is the heart, the seat of true influence. By cultivating a calm, centered heart, your influence becomes focused and effective. It no longer affects everyone randomly but connects deeply and unerringly with those who are truly in tune with you. This is the core of authentic connection.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五)
Fifth line - Yang
"The influence shows itself in the nape of the neck. No remorse."
This represents a rigid, intellectual influence. You are trying to persuade through sheer willpower and stiffness, without heartfelt connection. While this may prevent you from making mistakes (no remorse), it creates no deep or lasting bond. It is a sterile form of influence.
Top Six (上六)
Top line - Yin
"The influence shows itself in the jaws, cheeks, and tongue."
This is the most superficial influence of all: mere talk, gossip, or flattery. It is "lip service" with no substance or real intent behind it. This kind of influence is entirely ineffective and meaningless.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
This hexagram is the very essence of courtship and true romance. It signals a powerful, natural attraction between two people. The advice is to let this attraction unfold organically. Do not try to force a connection with clever tactics (jaws/tongue) or by stubbornly imposing your will (nape of neck). The most potent form of romantic influence comes from the heart (line 4). By being centered, calm, and open, you create a magnetic field that draws the right person to you. If you are single, the message is to cultivate your own inner stability and joy (be the mountain with a lake on it); this makes you irresistibly attractive. If you are in a relationship, this is a call to return to that initial, spontaneous connection. Let go of trying to control your partner and simply be a receptive, welcoming presence for them. True love is a mutual, effortless influence.
Career & Business (事业)
In a professional setting, this hexagram teaches the art of leadership through magnetism rather than authority. A truly influential leader does not need to give constant commands; their vision and character naturally inspire their team. To cultivate this, one must be like the mountain: stable, principled, and reliable. And also like the lake: open to new ideas, joyous in the work, and receptive to feedback. This hexagram suggests that new partnerships or business opportunities are on the horizon. To attract the best ones, focus on your company's core values and culture (the heart, line 4). Superficial marketing (the tongue) will have little effect. A strong, authentic brand and a positive internal culture will naturally draw in the right clients, employees, and collaborators. Be the kind of company that others want to be influenced by.
Health & Wellness (健康)
For health, 'Influence' speaks to the profound connection between mind and body. True wellness arises from a harmonious, mutual influence between your physical state and your mental/emotional state. The hexagram advises you to become receptive to your body's subtle signals. Do not try to force it into submission with a rigid, unyielding regimen (the nape of the neck). Instead, listen to its needs. What food does it crave? What kind of movement feels joyous? When does it need stillness? By creating a receptive inner space, you allow your body's innate wisdom to guide you toward balance. This is also about the influence of your environment. Are you surrounding yourself with people, places, and activities that have a positive, calming influence on your nervous system? Cultivating this harmony is the key to lasting health.
Financial Matters (财运)
In finance, this hexagram suggests that prosperity is attracted, not chased. The path to wealth is to build a stable, valuable foundation (the mountain)—your skills, your reputation, your solid assets—and then maintain an open, receptive attitude (the lake) to the opportunities that naturally flow your way. This is the opposite of making impulsive, twitchy trades (the big toe) or frantically chasing every "hot tip" (the calves). True financial influence comes from a calm and centered mind (the heart). When you are not agitated by greed or fear, you can clearly discern genuine opportunities from superficial talk (the tongue). By being a stable and reliable presence in your field, you naturally attract wealth and partnerships. Focus on building intrinsic value, and the financial rewards will follow.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
This is a beautiful hexagram for personal development, teaching that the greatest growth comes from the interplay between stillness and receptivity. The "mountain" is your core self, your unchanging principles, your discipline. The "lake" is your open mind, your heart's capacity for joy, your willingness to be moved and inspired by the world. The journey is to develop both. Through practices like meditation, you build the unshakable stillness of the mountain. Through cultivating curiosity, empathy, and humility, you create the joyful openness of the lake. A person who embodies this hexagram has a powerful, quiet influence on everyone they meet. They don't need to preach or persuade; their very presence is an invitation to connect with something true and beautiful. Growth is becoming a person who encourages the best in others simply by being receptive and authentic.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
The time is highly favorable for forming new connections, partnerships, and unions of all kinds. The key to success lies in your approach. Do not force, push, or manipulate. Instead, cultivate inner stillness and an open, receptive heart. Let things unfold naturally. Trust the power of mutual attraction. Center your intentions in your heart, and you will find that the right people and opportunities are drawn to you effortlessly. This is a time to be, not to do.
