I Ching Hexagram 11: Advance (泰)
Overview
The Receptive, which moves downward, stands above; the Creative, which moves upward, is below. Hence their influences meet and are in harmony, so that all living things bloom and prosper. This hexagram belongs to the first month (February-March), at which time the forces of nature prepare the new spring.
The Judgment — Wilhelm/Baynes Translation
PEACE. The small departs, The great approaches. Good fortune. Success.
— Richard Wilhelm & Cary F. Baynes, The I Ching or Book of Changes (Princeton University Press, 1950)
The Image — Wilhelm/Baynes Translation
Heaven and earth unite: the image of PEACE. Thus the ruler Divides and completes the course of heaven and earth, And so aids the people.
— Richard Wilhelm & Cary F. Baynes, The I Ching or Book of Changes (1950)
Commentary
Heaven and earth are in contact and combine their influences, producing a time of universal flowering and prosperity. This stream of energy must be regulated by the ruler of men. It is done by a process of division. Thus men divide the uniform flow of time into the seasons, according to the succession of natural phenomena, and mark off infinite space by the points of the compass. In this way nature in its overwhelming profusion of phenomena is bounded and controlled. One the other hand, nature must be furthered in her productiveness. This is done by adjusting the products to the right time and the right place, which increases the natural yield. This controlling and furthering activity of man in his relation to nature is the work on nature that rewards him.
The Six Lines — Complete Commentary
Each line represents a stage in the unfolding situation. A line becomes "changing" when it transforms during divination.
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Line 1
When ribbon grass is pulled up, the sod comes with it. Each according to his kind. Undertakings bring good fortune.
In times of prosperity every able man called to fill an office draws like minded people along with him, just as in pulling up ribbon grass one always pulls up a bunch of it, because the stalks are connected by their roots. In such times, when it is possible to extend influence widely, the mind of an able man is set upon going out into life and accomplishing something. -
Line 2
Bearing with the uncultured in gentleness, Fording the river with resolution, Not neglecting what is distant, Not regarding one's companions:
Thus one may manage to walk in the middle.
In times of prosperity it is important and above all to possess enough greatness of soul to bear with imperfect people. For in the hands of a great master no material is unproductive; he can find use for everything. But this generosity is by no means laxity or weakness. It is during times of prosperity especially that we must always be ready to risk even dangerous undertakings, such as the crossing of a river, if they are necessary. So too we must not neglect what is distant but must attend scrupulously to everything. Factionalism and the dominance of cliques are especially to be avoided. Even if people of like mind come forward together, they ought not to form a faction by holding together for mutual advantage; instead, each man should do is duty. Theses are four ways in which one can overcome the hidden danger of a gradual slackening that always lurks in any time of peace. And that is how one finds the middle way for action. -
Line 3
No plain not followed by a slope. No going not followed by a return. He who remains persevering in danger Is without blame. Do not complain about this truth; Enjoy the good fortune you still possess.
Everything on earth is subject to change. Prosperity is followed by decline: this is the eternal law on earth. Evil can indeed be held in check but not permanently abolished. It always returns. This conviction might induct melancholy, but it should not; it ought only to keep us from falling into illusion when good fortune comes to us. If we continue mindful of the danger, we remain persevering and make no mistakes. As long as a man's inner nature remains stronger and richer than anything offered by external fortune, as long as he remains inwardly superior to fate, fortune will not desert him. -
Line 4
He flutters down, not boasting of his wealth, Together with his neighbor, Guileless and sincere.
In times of mutual confidence, people of high rank come in close contact with the lowly quite simply and without boasting of their wealth. This is not due to the force of circumstances but corresponds with their inmost sentiment. The approach is made quite spontaneously, because it is based on inner conviction. -
Line 5
The sovereign I Gives his daughter in marriage. And supreme good fortune.
The sovereign I is T'ang the Completer. By his decree the imperial princesses, although higher in rank than their husbands, had to obey them like all other wives. Here too we are shown a truly modest union of high and low that brings happiness and blessings. -
Line 6
The wall falls back into the moat. Use no army now. Make your commands known within your own town. Perseverance brings humiliation.
The change alluded to in the middle of the hexagram has begun to take place. The wall of the town sinks back into the moat from which it was dug. The hour of doom is at hand. When matters have come to this pass, we should submit to fate and not try to stave it off by violent resistance. The one recourse left us is to hold our own within our intimate circle. Should we persevere in trying to resist the evil in the usual way, our collapse would only be more complete, and humiliation would be the result.
♥ Hexagram 11 Advance — Love & Relationships
Hexagram 11, T'ai the Peace, is among the most auspicious hexagrams in the entire I Ching for matters of love and relationship. Its image of Earth above Heaven describes the ideal of genuine romantic love: two people who bring their genuine wholeness to genuine meeting, creating together something that neither could create alone.
The Peace of T'ai in love is not the absence of challenge but the presence of genuine harmonious flow between two people — the quality of relationship in which genuine differences are understood and respected, genuine feelings are freely expressed and genuinely received, and the energy of genuine love flows naturally between well-matched, committed partners.
★ Hexagram 11 Advance — Career & Work
Hexagram 11, T'ai the Peace, brings its most auspicious message to career life: conditions for genuine professional flourishing are genuinely favorable, and the harmonious flow that enables genuine professional success is genuinely available. This is a time of genuine career opportunity.
In professional terms, T'ai describes the period when an organization's culture, leadership, and strategic direction are genuinely aligned — when genuine talents of people at all levels are genuinely engaged, communication flows freely, and genuine collaboration produces results exceeding what individual effort could achieve.
◆ Hexagram 11 Advance — Money & Finances
Hexagram 11, T'ai the Peace, is one of the most auspicious hexagrams for financial matters. Its image of genuine harmonious flow, the small departing and the great approaching, and genuine alignment of conditions that produces genuine flourishing translates directly into favorable financial conditions, genuine wealth-building opportunity, and the alignment of personal financial readiness with genuinely favorable external conditions.
In financial terms, T'ai describes conditions where genuine positive financial momentum is available — where a well-prepared, consistently investing person will find patient financial efforts producing genuine positive results, and where genuinely sound investment theses are being confirmed by actual market performance.
☤ Hexagram 11 Advance — Health & Wellbeing
Hexagram 11, T'ai the Peace, in health terms is genuinely encouraging: it signals a period of harmonious vital energy, genuine health flourishing, and alignment of physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of wellbeing that enables the most robust and genuine health. The small of minor health concerns is departing; the great of genuine robust health is approaching.
The image of Earth and Heaven in harmonious union in health terms describes the ideal state of physical wellbeing: the receptive yin systems — restorative, nourishing, regenerative processes — and the active yang systems — energetic, immune, and generative processes — are in genuine harmonious balance, producing radiant, sustainable health.
☯ Hexagram 11 Advance — Spiritual Growth
Hexagram 11, T'ai the Peace, is one of the most profoundly auspicious hexagrams for spiritual life. Its image of Heaven and Earth in genuine harmonious union describes the spiritual state of genuine integration — the experience of being genuinely at home in the world, genuinely aligned with the deep creative intelligence of reality, and genuinely flowing in harmony with the larger purposes that give life genuine meaning.
The spiritual experience that T'ai describes is not the dramatic spiritual experience of intense mystical encounter but the deeper and more sustainable quality of genuine spiritual peace — the state of genuine inner harmony emerging when the practitioner's life, practice, and inner development have reached genuine alignment, when spiritual reality is being genuinely lived rather than merely sought.
△ Hexagram 11 Advance — Business & Strategy
Hexagram 11, T'ai the Peace, is among the most auspicious hexagrams for business matters. Its message of genuine harmonious flow, genuine alignment of favorable conditions, and the approaching of genuine great outcomes translates directly into favorable market conditions, genuine organizational health, and genuine opportunity for significant business growth and genuine business success.
In business terms, T'ai describes the organizational state of genuine healthy alignment: when leadership, culture, strategy, and people are genuinely well-matched; when communication flows freely and honestly at all levels; when genuine talent is genuinely engaged in work that genuinely matters; and when the overall organizational environment generates genuine collective intelligence and genuine committed effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hexagram 11 Advance mean?
This hexagram denotes a time in nature when heaven seems to be on earth. Heaven has placed itself beneath the earth, and so their powers unite in deep harmony. Then peace and blessing descend upon all living things. In the world of man it is a time of social harmony; those in high places show favor to the lowly, and the lowly and inferior is an end to all feuds. In side, at the center, in the key position, is the light principle; the dark principle is outside. Thus the light has a powerful influ
Is Hexagram 11 a yes or no?
The I Ching does not provide simple yes or no answers. Hexagram 11, Advance, offers guidance about the quality and direction of the current moment. Consult the judgment and image texts above for specific direction relevant to your question.
What are the changing lines in Hexagram 11?
Changing lines indicate points of transformation within your reading. Each of the six lines in Hexagram 11 carries its own meaning — see the complete line commentary above for detailed guidance on each position.
Have a question about this hexagram?
Get a Personalized Advance ReadingSources
- Wilhelm, Richard & Baynes, Cary F. The I Ching or Book of Changes. Princeton University Press, 1950.
- Legge, James. The I Ching: Book of Changes. Dover Publications, 1963.
- Huang, Alfred. The Complete I Ching. Inner Traditions, 1998.
Commentary
This hexagram denotes a time in nature when heaven seems to be on earth. Heaven has placed itself beneath the earth, and so their powers unite in deep harmony. Then peace and blessing descend upon all living things. In the world of man it is a time of social harmony; those in high places show favor to the lowly, and the lowly and inferior is an end to all feuds. In side, at the center, in the key position, is the light principle; the dark principle is outside. Thus the light has a powerful influence, while the dark is submissive. In this way each receives its due. When the good elements of society occupy a central position and are in control, the evil elements come under their influence and change for the better. When the spirit of heaven rules in man, his animal nature also comes under its influence and takes its appropriate place. The individual lines enter the hexagram from below and leave it again at the top. Here the small, weak, and evil elements are about to take their departure, while the great, strong, and good elements are moving up. This brings good fortune and success.