I Ching Hexagram 32: Long Lasting (恆)
Overview
The strong trigram Chên is above, the weak trigram Sun below. This hexagram is the inverse of the preceding one. In the latter we have influence, here we have union as an enduring condition. The two images are thunder and wind, which are likewise constantly paired phenomena. The lower trigram indicates gentleness within; the upper, movement without. In the sphere of social relationships, the hexagram represents the institution of marriage as the enduring union of the sexes. During courtship the young man subordinates himself to the girl, but in marriage, which is represented by the coming together of the eldest son and the eldest daughter, the husband is the directing and moving force outside, while the wife, inside, is gentle and submissive.
The Judgment — Wilhelm/Baynes Translation
DURATION. Success. No blame. Perseverance furthers. It furthers one to have somewhere to go.
— Richard Wilhelm & Cary F. Baynes, The I Ching or Book of Changes (Princeton University Press, 1950)
The Image — Wilhelm/Baynes Translation
Thunder and wind: the image of DURATION. Thus the superior man stands firm And does not change has direction.
— Richard Wilhelm & Cary F. Baynes, The I Ching or Book of Changes (1950)
Commentary
Thunder rolls, and the wind blows; both are examples of extreme mobility and so are seemingly the very opposite of duration, but the laws governing their appearance and subsidence, their coming and going, endure. In the same way the independence of the superior man is not based on rigidity and immobility of character. He always keeps abreast of the time and changes with it. What endures is the unswerving directive, the inner law of his being, which determines all his actions.
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
Seeking duration too hastily brings misfortune persistently.
Nothing that would further.
Whatever endures can be created only gradually by long-continued work and careful reflection. In the same sense Lao-tse says: "If we wish to compress something, we must first let it fully expand." He who demands too much at once is acting precipitately, and because he attempts too much, he ends by succeeding in nothing. -
Line 2
Remorse disappears.
The situation is abnormal. A man's force of character is greater than the available material power. Thus he might be afraid of allowing himself to attempt something beyond his strength. However, since it is the time of DURATION, it is possible for him to control his inner strength and so to avoid excess. Cause for remorse then disappears. -
Line 3
He who does not give duration to his character Meets with disgrace. Persistent humiliation.
If a man remains at the mercy of moods of hope or fear aroused by the outer world, he loses his inner consistency of character. Such inconsistency invariably leads to distressing experiences. These humiliations often come from an unforeseen quarter. Such experiences are not merely effects produced by the external world, but logical consequences evoked by his own nature. -
Line 4
No game in the field.
If we are in pursuit of game and want to get a shot at a quarry, we must set about it in the right way. A man who persists in stalking game in a place where there is none may wait forever without finding any. Persistence in search is not enough. What is not sought in the right way is not found. -
Line 5
Giving duration to one's character through perseverance.
This is good fortune for a woman, misfortune for a man.
A woman should follow a man her whole life long, but a man should at all times hold to what is his duty at the given moment. Should he persistently seek to conform to the woman, it would be a mistake for him. Accordingly it is altogether right for a woman to hold conservatively to tradition, but a man must always be flexible and adaptable and allow himself to be guided solely by what his duty requires of him at the moment. -
Line 6
Restlessness as an enduring condition brings misfortune.
There are people who live in a state of perpetual hurry without ever attaininginner composure. Restlessness not only prevents all thoroughness but actuallybecomes a danger if it is dominant in places of authority.
♥ Hexagram 32 Long Lasting — Love & Relationships
Hexagram 32, Long Lasting (恆, héng), brings a profound and timely message to love and relationships. The interplay of THE AROUSING over THE GENTLE — THUNDER resting upon WIND — creates a dynamic that speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities you face in your relationships. This hexagram invites careful reflection on how its ancient wisdom applies to the most pressing questions of emotional connection.
The I Ching has been consulted for thousands of years precisely because its symbolic language, developed through centuries of careful observation of natural and human patterns, cuts through surface circumstances to reveal deeper truths. When Hexagram 32 Long Lasting appears in response to questions about partnership, it brings the combined wisdom of its two trigrams: the qualities of THUNDER above and WIND below, interacting to create a specific and meaningful moment in the cycle of change.
★ Hexagram 32 Long Lasting — Career & Work
Hexagram 32, Long Lasting (恆, héng), brings a profound and timely message to professional life and career development. The interplay of THE AROUSING over THE GENTLE — THUNDER resting upon WIND — creates a dynamic that speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities you face in your work. This hexagram invites careful reflection on how its ancient wisdom applies to the most pressing questions of professional growth.
The I Ching has been consulted for thousands of years precisely because its symbolic language, developed through centuries of careful observation of natural and human patterns, cuts through surface circumstances to reveal deeper truths. When Hexagram 32 Long Lasting appears in response to questions about career path, it brings the combined wisdom of its two trigrams: the qualities of THUNDER above and WIND below, interacting to create a specific and meaningful moment in the cycle of change.
◆ Hexagram 32 Long Lasting — Money & Finances
Hexagram 32, Long Lasting (恆, héng), brings a profound and timely message to financial matters. The interplay of THE AROUSING over THE GENTLE — THUNDER resting upon WIND — creates a dynamic that speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities you face in your resources. This hexagram invites careful reflection on how its ancient wisdom applies to the most pressing questions of material abundance.
The I Ching has been consulted for thousands of years precisely because its symbolic language, developed through centuries of careful observation of natural and human patterns, cuts through surface circumstances to reveal deeper truths. When Hexagram 32 Long Lasting appears in response to questions about financial security, it brings the combined wisdom of its two trigrams: the qualities of THUNDER above and WIND below, interacting to create a specific and meaningful moment in the cycle of change.
☤ Hexagram 32 Long Lasting — Health & Wellbeing
Hexagram 32, Long Lasting (恆, héng), brings a profound and timely message to health and wellbeing. The interplay of THE AROUSING over THE GENTLE — THUNDER resting upon WIND — creates a dynamic that speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities you face in your body and mind. This hexagram invites careful reflection on how its ancient wisdom applies to the most pressing questions of physical vitality.
The I Ching has been consulted for thousands of years precisely because its symbolic language, developed through centuries of careful observation of natural and human patterns, cuts through surface circumstances to reveal deeper truths. When Hexagram 32 Long Lasting appears in response to questions about wellness journey, it brings the combined wisdom of its two trigrams: the qualities of THUNDER above and WIND below, interacting to create a specific and meaningful moment in the cycle of change.
☯ Hexagram 32 Long Lasting — Spiritual Growth
Hexagram 32, Long Lasting (恆, héng), brings a profound and timely message to spiritual development. The interplay of THE AROUSING over THE GENTLE — THUNDER resting upon WIND — creates a dynamic that speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities you face in your inner life. This hexagram invites careful reflection on how its ancient wisdom applies to the most pressing questions of spiritual growth.
The I Ching has been consulted for thousands of years precisely because its symbolic language, developed through centuries of careful observation of natural and human patterns, cuts through surface circumstances to reveal deeper truths. When Hexagram 32 Long Lasting appears in response to questions about the path of wisdom, it brings the combined wisdom of its two trigrams: the qualities of THUNDER above and WIND below, interacting to create a specific and meaningful moment in the cycle of change.
△ Hexagram 32 Long Lasting — Business & Strategy
Hexagram 32, Long Lasting (恆, héng), brings a profound and timely message to business and commerce. The interplay of THE AROUSING over THE GENTLE — THUNDER resting upon WIND — creates a dynamic that speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities you face in your enterprise. This hexagram invites careful reflection on how its ancient wisdom applies to the most pressing questions of commercial success.
The I Ching has been consulted for thousands of years precisely because its symbolic language, developed through centuries of careful observation of natural and human patterns, cuts through surface circumstances to reveal deeper truths. When Hexagram 32 Long Lasting appears in response to questions about business ventures, it brings the combined wisdom of its two trigrams: the qualities of THUNDER above and WIND below, interacting to create a specific and meaningful moment in the cycle of change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hexagram 32 Long Lasting mean?
Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression. Duration is rather the self-contained and therefore self-renewing movement of an organized, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in
Is Hexagram 32 a yes or no?
The I Ching does not provide simple yes or no answers. Hexagram 32, Long Lasting, 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 32?
Changing lines indicate points of transformation within your reading. Each of the six lines in Hexagram 32 carries its own meaning — see the complete line commentary above for detailed guidance on each position.
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Get a Personalized Long Lasting 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
Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression. Duration is rather the self-contained and therefore self-renewing movement of an organized, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in exhalation, diastole, expansion. Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. The seasons of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce effects that endure. So likewise the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.