泽山咸
Hexagram 31 opens the second half of the I Ching with the theme of mutual influence — the natural attraction and responsiveness between complementary forces. The counsel is to remain genuinely open and receptive, allowing influence to flow naturally rather than forcing or manipulating it. True attraction needs no artifice.
咸：亨，利贞，取女吉。
两情相感则亨通：利于守正；少男在下谦承少女，婚娶吉祥。
Interpretive translationInfluence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.
彖曰：咸，感也。柔上而刚下，二气感应以相与，止而说，男下女，是以亨利贞，取女吉也。天地感而万物化生，圣人感人心而天下和平；观其所感，而天地万物之情可见矣！
象曰：山上有泽，咸；君子以虚受人。
山顶有泽水，山虚上而泽润下，两相感应；君子效法它，虚怀若谷以接纳他人。
咸其拇。
象曰：咸其拇，志在外也。
The influence shows itself in the big toe.
咸其腓，凶，居吉。
象曰：虽凶居吉，顺不害也。
The influence shows itself in the calves of the legs. Misfortune. Tarrying brings good fortune.
咸其股，执其随，往吝。
象曰：咸其股，亦不处也。志在随人，所执下也。
The influence shows itself in the thighs. Holds to that which follows it. To continue is humiliating.
贞吉悔亡，憧憧往来，朋从尔思。
象曰：贞吉悔亡，未感害也。憧憧往来，未光大也。
Perseverance brings good fortune; remorse disappears. If a man is agitated in mind and his thoughts go hither and thither, only friends on whom he fixes conscious thoughts will follow.
咸其脢，无悔。
象曰：咸其脢，志末也。
The influence shows itself in the back of the neck. No remorse.
咸其辅，颊，舌。
象曰：咸其辅颊舌，滕口说也。
The influence shows itself in the jaws, cheeks, and tongue.
Structure
Xian is formed by Lake (Dui ☱) above Mountain (Gen ☶). The lake rests in the hollow of the mountain — water finding its natural resting place in the depression of the earth. The upper trigram Dui brings joy, openness, and the quality of being pleased; the lower Gen brings stillness, solidity, and the quality of being a stable foundation. Together they describe a relationship of natural complementarity: the yielding above, the firm below, each finding its appropriate place.
Core meaning
Xian is traditionally associated with courtship and marriage — the attraction between a young man and a young woman, each genuinely responsive to the other. But the hexagram's scope extends far beyond romantic relationships. It describes any situation where two complementary forces come into contact and influence each other naturally, without coercion or manipulation.
The character Xian contains the element for "heart" or "feeling" — it is influence that operates through genuine feeling and authentic responsiveness. This distinguishes it from calculated persuasion or strategic charm. When influence flows from genuine openness and authentic response, it has a natural power that manufactured appeal cannot match.
The hexagram also speaks to the importance of emptiness and receptivity. The mountain is solid but has a hollow where the lake can rest. The person who is completely full of their own agenda, their own opinions, their own needs, has no space to receive the influence of others. Genuine mutual influence requires that both parties be genuinely open to being affected by the other.
In Liuyao readings, Xian is one of the most favorable hexagrams for questions about relationships, partnerships, and any situation requiring genuine connection. It suggests that the conditions for natural attraction and mutual influence are present. The counsel is to remain open and authentic rather than trying to engineer a specific outcome.
In divination
When Xian appears in a reading, the situation is favorable for genuine connection and mutual influence. The key is authenticity — being genuinely open and responsive rather than performing openness while pursuing a hidden agenda. The hexagram rewards those who approach others with real curiosity and genuine receptivity.
Xian is highly favorable for questions about relationships, partnerships, collaboration, and any situation where the querent needs to connect with others. It is less relevant for situations requiring solitary effort or independence from external influence.
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