乾
Qián · The Creative
Pure yang at full strength: the beginning of something that has not yet been tested.
The judgment
乾：元，亨，利，貞。
The creative force is at full strength. It succeeds, and it keeps succeeding if you stay steady. This is the beginning of something large, not a finished thing.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex01.judgment.
The image
象曰：天行健，君子以自強不息。
The sky moves without stopping. A capable person keeps working on themselves without pause.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex01.image.
Strength is a practice, not a possession: keep moving, and know when not to use force.
The six lines
Each line is a stage, from the bottom of the hexagram to the top. Open any line to read it in plain English.
初九 潛龍，勿用。 The dragon is still in the water. Do not act yet; build capacity where no one can see you.
The dragon is still in the water. Do not act yet; build capacity where no one can see you.
九二 見龍在田，利見大人。 The dragon appears in the field. It is time to be seen, and to seek out people who can open doors.
The dragon appears in the field. It is time to be seen, and to seek out people who can open doors.
九三 君子終日乾乾，夕惕若，厲無咎。 Work hard all day and stay alert at night. It feels dangerous, but careful effort keeps you out of trouble.
Work hard all day and stay alert at night. It feels dangerous, but careful effort keeps you out of trouble.
九四 或躍在淵，無咎。 You are deciding whether to leap or stay in the deep. Either choice is acceptable if you make it deliberately.
You are deciding whether to leap or stay in the deep. Either choice is acceptable if you make it deliberately.
九五 飛龍在天，利見大人。 The dragon flies in the sky. You are in your element; bring in the right people and let the work be seen.
The dragon flies in the sky. You are in your element; bring in the right people and let the work be seen.
上九 亢龍有悔。 The dragon has gone too high. What rises past its limit regrets it; pull back before you are forced to.
The dragon has gone too high. What rises past its limit regrets it; pull back before you are forced to.