Hexagram 30 of the I Ching: Li, The Clinging, Fire (離), meaning and lines
Li, The Clinging, Fire: the flame needs fuel. An image of clarity, of attachment and of the dependence that gives light.
Key points
| Number | 30 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Li (離) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “lee” |
| Lower trigram | ☲ Li, Fire |
| Upper trigram | ☲ Li, Fire |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yang, yin, yang, yang, yin, yang |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 29, Kan, The Abysmal |
| Other names | Fire, Brightness, Adherence, Attachment |
Hexagram 30 at a glance
Li (離) is the 30th hexagram of the I Ching, and the last of the first half of the book (the first 30 hexagrams). The character means “to cling, to adhere”, and also “to separate”, depending on usage. Hence “The Clinging, Fire” or “Brightness”.
Like Kan, it is a hexagram made of two identical trigrams: doubled Fire. The figure has two solid lines at the ends of each trigram and a broken line at the centre, like a flame around an empty space.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, called inner or lower, is Li (Fire); the upper one, called outer or upper, is Li (Fire). The bottom stands for the base of the situation, the top for its context or outcome. Fire upon Fire: a flame that spreads from one point to the next. The commentary on the image sees in it the great person who extends their light to the four directions, through successive brightnesses.
Line diagram, from the first to the sixth: yang, yin, yang, yang, yin, yang. In King Wen’s sequence, this hexagram pairs with No. 29, Kan, The Abysmal. Its opposite (all lines reversed) is No. 29, Kan, The Abysmal, and it remains the same when read from top to bottom. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 28, Da Guo, Preponderance of the Great.
The judgment, in brief
The judgment recommends perseverance, announces a favourable course, and adds a gentle image: raising a cow, a docile animal, brings good fortune.
The flame does not live on its own: it clings to fuel. The hexagram therefore joins light with docility and with well-chosen dependence.
General meaning
Li brings together clarity and dependence. Fire gives light, but it needs wood; in the same way, clarity of mind rests on a foundation, on relationships, on discipline. The trigram of Fire is associated with the sun, with the mind that understands, with beauty.
The figure stresses moderation: a light that is too bright or too brief (the setting sun, the sudden blaze) becomes a risk. It advises using one’s clarity with gratitude rather than wasting it.
The six lines, one by one
Lines are counted from bottom to top. These very short paraphrases do not replace reading a full translation.
| Line | Image and idea |
|---|---|
| 1 (yang) | Footsteps crossing at daybreak: attentive respect is enough to avoid a fault. |
| 2 (yin) | Yellow light, the colour of the centre: very favourable; balanced clarity. |
| 3 (yang) | The sun declines: if one does not enjoy song and music, one laments growing old; an unfavourable omen. |
| 4 (yang) | A flame that flares up, burns, goes out and is abandoned: an excess of haste. |
| 5 (yin) | Abundant tears, sighs: sorrow that is accepted nonetheless brings a good omen. |
| 6 (yang) | The king goes out on campaign: he strikes down the ringleaders without punishing the crowd; no fault (an image of discernment). |
Changing lines and the resulting hexagram
A changing line (a total of 6 or 9 when the three coins are cast) turns into its opposite and gives a second hexagram, the resulting hexagram, which describes the direction the situation is taking. Here, lines 1, 3, 4 and 6 are yang and lines 2 and 5 are yin. The broken lines 2 and 5, at the centre of each trigram, are the “emptiness of the flame”; the solid lines 1, 3, 4 and 6 are its envelope. A changing central line alters the nature of the clarity.
| If the changing line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yang becomes yin) | No. 56, Lü, The Wanderer |
| 2 (yin becomes yang) | No. 14, Da You, Possession in Great Measure |
| 3 (yang becomes yin) | No. 21, Shi He, Biting Through |
| 4 (yang becomes yin) | No. 22, Bi (Grace), Grace |
| 5 (yin becomes yang) | No. 13, Tong Ren, Fellowship |
| 6 (yang becomes yin) | No. 55, Feng, Abundance |
Six changing lines give the opposite, No. 29, Kan, The Abysmal. With several changing lines, the schools differ on which one to give priority.
A modern reading, with caution
Li appears in periods of clarity, recognition or strong attachment. It prompts you to ask what you are attached to, and whether it nourishes you or consumes you.
- At work: share your ideas and surround your clarity with a team rather than shutting yourself away with it.
- In relationships: value attachment without letting it become a suffocating dependence.
- For yourself: manage your energy: the flame needs rest as much as fuel.
Reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and divination, a tool for reflection and not a prediction; it does not replace medical, financial, legal or safety advice.
Questions to reflect on
- What is my energy attached to at the moment?
- What light can I offer to others without exhausting myself?
- Where am I burning out too quickly?
- What clarity am I missing in order to decide calmly?
Mistakes to avoid
- Confusing the attachment described in the text with an unhealthy dependence.
- Reading line 4 (the flame that goes out) as a threat: it is a warning.
- Seeking permanent brilliance: the flame changes.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 30 of the I Ching mean?
Li, The Clinging, Fire or Brightness, joins light, attachment and well-placed docility.
Why is there a cow in the judgment?
The image of a docile animal expresses the gentleness that accompanies clarity; the commentaries read in it the modesty of fire.
Which trigrams make up Li?
Fire (Li) below and Fire (Li) above.
Which hexagram is paired with Li?
No. 29, Kan, Water, by reversing all the lines.
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.