卦辭對整個卦（六條線為一組）的總體判斷。The judgment on the hexagram as a whole.
Judgment
乾：元、亨、利、貞。
乾，是最根本的開創力——它啟動（元）、通達（亨）、有利於行事（利）、且能守得住本分（貞）。
Khien (represents) what is great and originating, penetrating, advantageous, correct and firm.
James Legge · 1899
Hexagram 1 · 第 1 卦
乾
Qian · Heaven over Heaven
純陽至剛，萬物之所以動
上卦upper 乾 ☰ · 天 / Heaven下卦lower 乾 ☰ · 天 / Heaven
錯卦把每一爻都翻轉（陽↔陰）後得到的另一卦。The inverse-line hexagram: every line flipped.Opposite
第 2 卦 坤
綜卦把整個卦上下顛倒後得到的另一卦。The reversed hexagram: flipped top-to-bottom.Inverse
— self
互卦由原卦二、三、四爻 + 三、四、五爻組成的中間卦。The nuclear hexagram: built from lines 2-3-4 and 3-4-5 of the original.Nuclear
— self
卦辭與彖傳
Judgment and its commentary
先讀經文，再讀《彖傳》如何解釋卦辭。Read the received text first, then its Tuan commentary.
彖傳十翼之一，直接解釋卦名、卦辭及其剛柔結構。Tuan Zhuan — commentary explaining the name, Judgment, and line structure.
Commentary on the Judgment
大哉乾元，萬物資始，乃統天。雲行雨施，品物流形。大明終始，六位時成，時乘六龍以御天。乾道變化，各正性命，保合太和，乃利貞。首出庶物，萬國咸寧。
乾的開創力有多大——萬物靠它起始，它統攝整個天的運行。雲在流動、雨在降下，各種形體因而分化成形。太陽、月亮的光明是終、是始；六個位次按時完成，依時節駕六條龍行於天上。乾道在變化之中，讓每個物各自定住它的性與命，保守住太和之氣，這就是「利貞」。它率先走出一切物類之上，讓萬國都得到安寧。
Vast is the 'great and originating (power)' indicated by Khien! All things owe to it their beginning:—it contains all the meaning belonging to (the name) heaven. The clouds move and the rain is distributed; the various things appear in their developed forms. (The sages) grandly understand (the connexion between) the end and the beginning, and how (the indications of) the six lines in the hexagram are accomplished, (each) in its season. (Accordingly) they mount (the carriage) drawn by those six dragons at the proper times, and drive through the sky. The method of Khien is to change and transform, so that everything obtains its correct nature as appointed (by the mind of Heaven); and (thereafter the conditions of) great harmony are preserved in union. The result is 'what is advantageous, and correct and firm.' (The sage) appears aloft, high above all things, and the myriad states all enjoy repose.
James Legge · 1899
大象傳《大象傳》從上下卦的自然圖像推演全卦之象，再提出人事取法。它不是《彖傳》的續文。The Great Image derives conduct from the two trigrams' natural images; it is not a continuation of the Tuan.
Great Image Commentary
上下卦取象 → 全卦成象 → 人事取法Trigrams → whole image → conduct
上下卦Trigrams
☰乾 · 天Upper · Heaven
☰乾 · 天Lower · Heaven
全卦成象Whole image
天行健
Heaven, in its motion, (gives the idea of) strength.
人事取法Conduct
君子以自強不息。
The superior man, in accordance with this, nerves himself to ceaseless activity.
天的運行是剛健不停的——君子仿效這個樣子，自我更新、不鬆懈。
James Legge · 1899
六爻意象導覽Six-line image guide
由六爻爻辭整理 · 點選可跳至原文 · Editorial guide · select a stage to read the line
本站導讀，不屬《大象傳》原文；用來預覽本卦六爻由初至上的意象變化。An editorial preview of the six line images, not part of the Great Image Commentary.
中性位neutral主爻 · 青灰ruling line過盈之爻 · 朱砂overshot
爻辭針對單獨一條線的判斷，每卦有六條。閱讀次序：初爻 → 上爻。卦象本身則由下而上排列。Line statements — one per line, six per hexagram. Reading order is 初 → 上 (top to bottom on the page). The hexagram itself is drawn bottom-up — see the rail.
Line statements · 初 → 上 · reading order
小象十翼之一。對每一條爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on each line. inline beneath each line
初九
Line 1 · 第 1 爻 · yang陽
潛龍，勿用。
龍潛伏在深水裡——現在不是出手的時候。有能力而時機未到，要積蓄，不要表演。
In the first (or lowest) NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon lying hid (in the deep). It is not the time for active doing.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on this line. · Image on the line
潛龍勿用，陽在下也。
潛龍勿用——因為陽爻還在最下面的位置。
'The dragon lies hid; it is not the time for active doing:'—the strong and undivided (line) is in the lowest place.
九二
Line 2 · 第 2 爻 · yang陽
見龍在田，利見大人。
龍出現在地面上，讓人看得見了——這時見對的人、出現在對的場合，會有收穫。
In the second NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon appearing in the field. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on this line. · Image on the line
見龍在田，德施普也。
見龍在田——此時德已能廣施於眾。
'The dragon appears in the field:'—the diffusion of virtuous influence has been wide.
九三
Line 3 · 第 3 爻 · yang陽
君子終日乾乾，夕惕若，厲，无咎。
君子整天都在做功課、到晚上還戒慎警惕。處境是危險的，但因為你這樣做，就不會有錯。
In the third NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the superior man active and vigilant all the day, and in the evening still careful and apprehensive. (The position is) dangerous, but there will be no mistake.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on this line. · Image on the line
終日乾乾，反復道也。
終日乾乾——是因為要反覆檢視、踏實於道。
'Active and vigilant all the day:'—(this refers to) the treading of the (proper) path over and over again.
九四
Line 4 · 第 4 爻 · yang陽
或躍在淵，无咎。
該跳起來了嗎？還是繼續留在深水裡？試探性地一躍，觀察情勢——這樣做沒有錯。
In the fourth NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon looking as if he were leaping up, (but still) in the deep. There will be no mistake.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on this line. · Image on the line
或躍在淵，進无咎也。
或躍在淵——試探著前進，是不會有錯的。
'He seems to be leaping up, but is still in the deep:'—if he advance, there will be no mistake.
九五
Line 5 · 第 5 爻 · yang陽
飛龍在天，利見大人。
龍飛到天上了——位置、影響、時機都齊備。這時候見對的人、與對的人合作，力量最大。
In the fifth NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon on the wing in the sky. It will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on this line. · Image on the line
飛龍在天，大人造也。
飛龍在天——大人的事業正在這裡完成。
'The dragon is on the wing in the sky:'—the great man rouses himself to his work.
上九
Line 6 · 第 6 爻 · yang陽
亢龍，有悔。
飛得過頭了，過了頭。高峰之後再往上走一步，就會有悔。這是過剛的位置。
In the sixth (or topmost) NINE, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon exceeding the proper limits. There will be occasion for repentance.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on this line. · Image on the line
亢龍有悔，盈不可久也。
亢龍有悔——圓滿到極處是無法持久的。
'The dragon exceeds the proper limits;—there will be occasion for repentance:'—a state of fulness, that is, should not be indulged in long.
用九乾、坤二卦獨有的補充條目。Supplementary — only 乾 and 坤 have this.
Supplementary · 補充 · yang陽
見羣龍无首，吉。
看到一群龍同時出現，沒有誰爭著當頭——吉。六條都陽的時候，有能力而不爭頭，就是該有的智慧。
(The lines of this hexagram are all strong and undivided, as appears from) the use of the number NINE. If the host of dragons (thus) appearing were to divest themselves of their heads, there would be good fortune.
小象十翼之一。對爻辭的古典短註，列於該爻之下。Xiao Xiang — short commentary on this line. · Image on the line
用九，天德不可為首也。
用九——天的德行本來就不以「當頭」為價值。
'(The symbol of) heaven uses the representation of nine':—the (attribute expressed by the) undivided line should not (always) be in the foremost place.
乾qián
Named after the upper-and-lower trigrams, both 乾. Image: Heaven. Quality: pure yang, ceaseless strength.
龍lóng
Dragon — the signature image-vehicle of 乾. Six positions of a single dragon's life arc, from submerged to aloft to overshot.
元亨利貞yuán hēng lì zhēn
The four attributes of 乾. Read as phases (start / flow / benefit / hold) or as standalone virtues (originating / penetrating / advantageous / correct).
潛qián
Submerged, hidden in deep water. Not 'powerless' — 'not yet surfaced.'
田tián
Field, ground. Where the dragon becomes visible. The 'field' is social presence, not literal farmland.
乾乾qián qián
Doubled form of 乾— continuous, unflagging effort. Not frantic, not showy.
惕tì
Vigilant, alert, self-examining. Not fearful — watchful.
或huò
'Perhaps,' 'maybe.' Marks the probing, tentative quality of line 4.
躍yuè
Leap, jump up. Used here with 或— a trial leap, not a committed flight.
亢kàng
Excessive, overextended. The line-6 vice: going past the peak.
羣龍无首qún lóng wú shǒu
Many dragons, none in front. Strength distributed, no one contending to lead. The 用九 reading: when everyone is capable, the mature stance is not to fight for first.