Hexagram 25: Innocence

Written by Orbitarot · Sources: James Legge, The Yi King (The I Ching), 1882 (judgment and lines); plain readings our own · Updated October 7, 2026

Hexagram 25 in plain words

Heaven sits above thunder. Thunder rolls under the sky, and everything it stirs moves in its natural way, without pretense. The lower trigram's movement follows the will of heaven above. Tradition reads the hexagram as being free of the unexpected in one sense and open to it in another: a mind without falsehood acts spontaneously and well, yet it may still meet surprises it did not cause.

In your situation, the call is to keep your motives clean. Do what is right because it is right, not because you are counting on a particular reward. Plans built on manipulation or wishful thinking will meet resistance. At the same time, the hexagram is honest about chance. You may run into a setback that has nothing to do with your conduct, like a traveler who leads away a tied ox while the villager nearby gets the blame. When that happens, do not panic or change who you are. Stay calm, avoid drastic moves, and let the disturbance pass. Innocence is not naivety: it is the strength of acting in tune with what is natural and true.

The judgment

Wû Wang indicates great progress and success, while there will be advantage in being firm and correct. If (its subject and his action) be not correct, he will fall into errors, and it will not be advantageous for him to move in any direction.

Translation: James Legge, 1882 (public domain).

The image

The thunder rolls all under the sky, and to (every)thing there is given (its nature), free from all insincerity. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, (made their regulations) in complete accordance with the seasons, thereby nourishing all things.

From Legge's Appendix II (the Great Symbolism), The Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882 (public domain).

In plain words: Thunder rolls under the whole sky and everything responds in its own true way. Act simply and sincerely, in tune with the season, and let things grow without forcing them.

The six lines

Read only the lines that changed in your reading. Lines are counted from the bottom.

Line 1 (bottom)

The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject free from all insincerity. His advance will be accompanied with good fortune.

Acting with an honest, unforced heart brings good fortune. Trust your first sincere impulse.

Line 2

The second SIX, divided, shows one who reaps without having ploughed (that he might reap), and gathers the produce of his third year's fields without having cultivated them the first year for that end. To such a one there will be advantage in whatever direction he may move.

Do not plow while counting on the harvest, or clear the field while thinking of its yield. Do the work for its own sake, and then going forward is favorable.

Line 3

The third SIX, divided, shows calamity happening to one who is free from insincerity; as in the case of an ox that has been tied up. A passer by finds it (and carries it off), while the people in the neighbourhood have the calamity (of being accused and apprehended).

Trouble that you did not earn: someone ties up an ox, a passerby takes it, and a villager is blamed. Accept that bad luck can be random and do not take it as a verdict on you.

Line 4

The fourth NINE, undivided, shows (a case) in which, if its subject can remain firm and correct, there will be no error.

If you can stay steady and true, you remain without blame. Hold to what you know is right.

Line 5

The fifth NINE, undivided, shows one who is free from insincerity, and yet has fallen ill. Let him not use medicine, and he will have occasion for joy (in his recovery).

Legge's line uses an old image of illness. Read it as a picture of your situation, not as advice about anyone's health: for that, ask a doctor.

A setback that comes through no fault of yours. Forcing a solution can make it worse; give it room and it tends to settle.

Line 6 (top)

The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject free from insincerity, yet sure to fall into error, if he take action. (His action) will not be advantageous in any way.

Even innocent action goes wrong now; nothing favors moving. Wait quietly, as the timing does not support action.

Related hexagrams

All three relations have traditional Chinese names (cuo gua for the opposite, zong gua for the inverse, hu gua for the nuclear). Many modern readers use the opposite as the shadow side of a situation, the inverse as the same moment seen from the other side, and the nuclear hexagram as its inner core.

If one line changes

With a single changing line, hexagram 25 turns into:

Learn more: what the I Ching is, how to read changing lines, the eight trigrams, how to cast with coins or yarrow.

Hexagram 25 in love and relationships

In love, be genuine and do not play games or plan every move. Let affection grow naturally, and if a misunderstanding appears that you did not cause, stay calm.

Hexagram 25 for work and decisions

At work, act with integrity and focus on doing the job well rather than calculating every advantage. Unexpected setbacks may come; respond calmly without overreacting.

Questions