The I Ching reads situations, not fixed outcomes. Asked a yes or no question, a hexagram still answers — but as a leaning: some of the 64 favor moving forward, some counsel timing, and some advise restraint.

I Ching Yes or No

A hexagram-by-hexagram guide for decision questions. Cast your own coins, find your hexagram below, then weigh its leaning against your moving lines.

How yes / no readings actually work

Traditional I Ching practice doesn't deal in fixed yes/no verdicts — it maps a situation and its direction of drift. When you ask a decision question, three signals matter: the hexagram's overall tone (its judgment and trigram dynamics), the moving lines (where the situation is actively heading), and your question framing (ask “what happens if I proceed?” rather than “will I succeed?”). The table below condenses the first signal into a three-way leaning — 28 hexagrams lean yes, 23 counsel timing, 13 lean no.

All 64 hexagrams, three-way leaning

#1乾为天 · The CreativeLeans yes #2坤为地 · The ReceptiveLeans yes #3水雷屯 · Difficulty at the BeginningDepends on timing #4山水蒙 · Youthful FollyLeans no #5水天需 · WaitingDepends on timing #6天水讼 · ConflictLeans no #7地水师 · The ArmyDepends on timing #8水地比 · UnionLeans yes #9风天小畜 · Small TamingDepends on timing #10天泽履 · TreadingDepends on timing #11地天泰 · PeaceLeans yes #12天地否 · StandstillLeans no #13天火同人 · FellowshipLeans yes #14火天大有 · Great PossessionLeans yes #15地山谦 · ModestyLeans yes #16雷地豫 · EnthusiasmDepends on timing #17泽雷随 · FollowingLeans yes #18山风蛊 · DecayLeans no #19地泽临 · ApproachLeans yes #20风地观 · ContemplationDepends on timing #21火雷噬嗑 · Biting ThroughDepends on timing #22山火贲 · GraceLeans yes #23山地剥 · Splitting ApartLeans no #24地雷复 · ReturnLeans yes #25天雷无妄 · InnocenceDepends on timing #26山天大畜 · Great TamingLeans yes #27山雷颐 · NourishmentDepends on timing #28泽风大过 · Great ExcessLeans no #29坎为水 · The AbysmalLeans no #30离为火 · The ClingingLeans yes #31泽山咸 · InfluenceLeans yes #32雷风恒 · DurationLeans yes #33天山遁 · RetreatDepends on timing #34雷天大壮 · Great PowerLeans yes #35火地晋 · ProgressLeans yes #36地火明夷 · Darkening of the LightLeans no #37风火家人 · The FamilyLeans yes #38火泽睽 · OppositionDepends on timing #39水山蹇 · ObstructionLeans no #40雷水解 · DeliveranceDepends on timing #41山泽损 · DecreaseDepends on timing #42风雷益 · IncreaseLeans yes #43泽天夬 · BreakthroughDepends on timing #44天风姤 · Coming to MeetLeans no #45泽地萃 · Gathering TogetherLeans yes #46地风升 · Pushing UpwardLeans yes #47泽水困 · OppressionLeans no #48水风井 · The WellLeans yes #49泽火革 · RevolutionDepends on timing #50火风鼎 · The CauldronLeans yes #51震为雷 · The ArousingDepends on timing #52艮为山 · Keeping StillLeans no #53风山渐 · Gradual ProgressLeans yes #54雷泽归妹 · Marrying MaidenLeans no #55雷火丰 · AbundanceLeans yes #56火山旅 · The WandererDepends on timing #57巽为风 · The GentleDepends on timing #58兑为泽 · The JoyousLeans yes #59风水涣 · DispersionLeans yes #60水泽节 · LimitationDepends on timing #61风泽中孚 · Inner TruthLeans yes #62雷山小过 · Small ExcessDepends on timing #63水火既济 · After CompletionDepends on timing #64火水未济 · Before CompletionDepends on timing

Reading the three leanings

Leans yes

The hexagram's core image favors moving forward — conditions support the asking.

Depends on timing

The hexagram counsels timing and care: the answer depends on how and when you proceed.

Leans no

The hexagram's core image counsels restraint — forcing now works against you.

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For reflection, not prediction · Traditional three-coin method