In practice
The judgment
After a period of adversity and darkness, the return comes. Still, be aware of the mistakes that led you into the dark, because if you repeat them you could fall again. People will come to help you, and your undertakings and projects will be favored.
The poetry
Return
Success. Going out and coming in without harm; friends arrive, no fault. Back and forth along its way: in seven days comes the return. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
The image
Thunder within the earth: return. So the ancient kings closed the passes on the day of the solstice; merchants and travelers did not move, and the sovereign did not tour the regions.
The lines
- Line 6上六
If you let opportunities slip by and don't act at the right moment, it will no longer be possible to put things back in order, and you'll have to wait for new options to appear, which may take some time.
A lost return. Misfortune; there is calamity and ruin. If armies are set marching, in the end there will be a great defeat that reaches the ruler of the country. Misfortune. Not for ten years can a campaign be undertaken.
- Line 5六五
Acting without delay, recognizing past mistakes and correcting them, will lead you to sure success.
A generous return. No regret.
- Line 4六四
If you notice who the people around you really are and step away from those you see aren't right, even if you're left without company for a while, you'll find guidance and help.
Walking in the middle of the others, returning alone.
- Line 3六三
If you act with insecurity, going forward and back and repeating past mistakes, you'll stray from the path and from right action.
Returning again and again. Danger; no fault.
- Line 2六二
Surrounding yourself with the right people right now will bring success.
A restful return. Good fortune.
- Line 1初九
Success lies in doing things at the perfect time: watch the signs and act on them.
Returning from not far, without coming to regret. Great good fortune.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Coming Back turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 7The Armylines 1 and 2
- 15Simplicitylines 1 and 3
- 11Well-Beinglines 2 and 3
- 16Passionlines 1 and 4
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2 and 4
- 55Abundancelines 3 and 4
- 8Unionlines 1 and 5
- 60Thriftlines 2 and 5
- 63After the Endlines 3 and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 4 and 5
- 23The Falllines 1 and 6
- 41Decreaselines 2 and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 3 and 6
- 21Bitinglines 4 and 6
- 42Increaselines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 46Going Uplines 1, 2, and 3
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 4
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 3, and 4
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2, 3, and 4
- 29Waterlines 1, 2, and 5
- 39Held Backlines 1, 3, and 5
- 5Inactionlines 2, 3, and 5
- 45Meetinglines 1, 4, and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 2, 4, and 5
- 49Renewallines 3, 4, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 2, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 1, 3, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 2, 3, and 6
- 35Advancelines 1, 4, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 2, 4, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 3, 4, and 6
- 20Observinglines 1, 5, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 2, 5, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 3, 5, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 12Declinelines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
復：亨。出入无疾，朋來无咎。反復其道，七日來復，利有攸往。
象曰：雷在地中，復；先王以至日閉關，商旅不行，后不省方。
初九：不遠復，无祇悔，元吉。
六二：休復，吉。
六三：頻復，厲无咎。
六四：中行獨復。
六五：敦復，无悔。
上六：迷復，凶，有災眚。用行師，終有大敗，以其國君，凶；至于十年，不克征。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.