Hexagram 20 Guān (觀): Contemplation, Meaning and Six Lines
The twentieth hexagram of the I Ching: the Wind above the Earth, contemplating and being contemplated. Judgement, six lines, moving lines and a careful reading of Contemplation.
Key points
| Number | 20 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 觀 (Guān) |
| Approximate pronunciation | gwan |
| French name (tradition followed here) | Guan, la Contemplation (Contemplation) |
| Lower trigram (inner) | Kun, Earth |
| Upper trigram (outer) | Xun, Wind |
| Lines, bottom to top | yin / yin / yin / yin / yang / yang |
| Twin hexagram | No. 19, Lin, Approach |
Hexagram 20: Guān (觀), name and composition
Hexagram 20 is called “Contemplation”. The character means to look, to observe, but also what is put on display, such as a watchtower or a monument. It plays on both meanings: to contemplate and to be contemplated.
Hexagram 20 is written 觀 (in simplified characters: 观) and transcribed Guān in pinyin; it is pronounced roughly “gwan”. It is made of two trigrams stacked on top of each other: below, inside, Kun (Earth); above, outside, Xun (Wind). The overall image is therefore the Wind above the Earth.
The six lines, from bottom to top, are: yin (broken), yin (broken), yin (broken), yin (broken), yang (solid), yang (solid). In the King Wen sequence it forms a pair with hexagram 19 (Lin, Approach), which is the same figure turned upside down.
The judgement in brief
The judgement describes a rite: having washed one’s hands before the offering, but not yet having made it. It is the moment of recollection in which one is entirely present. There is sincerity and dignity, a trust that commands respect.
General meaning
The Wind passes over the Earth: it traverses the land. Four yin lines are topped by two yang lines, like a tower from which one looks out over the territory and is looked at from afar. The hexagram invites us to observe before acting: to examine the situation, to look at oneself, to take the example of others into account. It also speaks of the example one sets.
The lines mark levels of sight: that of the child, that of someone looking through a crack, the examination of one’s own life, openness to the world, and finally the view of one’s effect on others. It is a progression from narrow sight towards discernment.
The six lines, one by one
The lines are counted from bottom to top. Below, in our own words, is the image the ancient text attaches to each one; the last column gives the hexagram obtained if that line alone is moving.
| Line | Nature | Summarised image | If it is moving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yin (broken) | Contemplating like a child: a naive view; for ordinary people, no blame; for the learned person, distress. | No. 42 (Yi, Increase) |
| 2 | yin (broken) | Looking through a crack: a narrow view, that of someone who stays inside. | No. 59 (Huan) |
| 3 | yin (broken) | Contemplating one’s own life to decide whether to advance or retreat: self-examination serves as a guide. | No. 53 (Jian, Development) |
| 4 | yin (broken) | Contemplating the splendour of the kingdom: discovering a wide horizon; it is good to be the guest of a king. | No. 12 (Pi) |
| 5 | yang (solid) | Contemplating one’s own life, as an example one sets: the person of worth remains without blame. | No. 23 (Bo) |
| 6 | yang (solid) | Contemplating the lives of others, or the example one sets: the person of worth remains without blame. (The exact meaning of these last two lines is debated.) | No. 8 (Bi) |
Moving lines
A moving line is a line that the casting marks as unstable: you read its own text, then it changes into its opposite, which gives a second hexagram, read as the direction the situation is taking. A moving yang line is called “nine”, a moving yin line “six”. Without a moving line, you keep to the general judgement.
For Guan, a moving line places your way of seeing: naive, narrow, turned towards yourself, open to the world, exemplary, or attentive to the effect you have on others.
A modern reading, with care
Today, Guan is often read as an invitation to observe before acting: stepping back, looking at one’s situation from a higher place, asking what example one is setting. A careful reading finds in it a form of meditation or of review. It predicts nothing: the act of looking is the real subject.
Questions for reflection
- What have I not yet taken the time to truly look at?
- Where am I looking from: close up, or from a distance?
- What example does my behaviour set for those who watch me?
- What is my ritual for being fully present, like the hand-washing of the judgement?
Mistakes to avoid
- Remaining a spectator out of fear of acting.
- Settling for a narrow view, like that of the second line.
- Forgetting that one is watched as much as one watches.
- Taking contemplation for escape: the text presents it as a preparation.
Names, translations and a reminder
The French name “Guan, la Contemplation” follows one translation tradition among others. Other translations speak of the View, Observation or Vision; the character 觀 also designates a watchtower. Compare two translations if you can.
A reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, consulted as a tool for reflection, never as a prediction; it does not replace medical, legal, financial or safety advice. This page summarises the text in our own words.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 20 of the I Ching mean?
It is the hexagram of contemplation: looking with attention, and knowing that one is being looked at. It invites stepping back, self-examination and setting an example.
What does the hand-washing in the judgement refer to?
It is the preparation stage of a rite, before the offering. It evokes the attention and sincerity of someone in recollection.
Is Guan passive?
No. Contemplation here is a way of preparing action and setting an example. It is not a permanent withdrawal.
What are the trigrams of hexagram 20?
Kun (Earth) below, inside, and Xun (Wind) above, outside.
What is the twin hexagram of number 20?
Number 19, Lin, Approach. In the King Wen sequence, hexagrams come in pairs, the second being the same figure turned upside down.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The 64 hexagrams of the Yi King.