Hexagram 32 of the I Ching: Heng, Duration (恆), meaning and lines
Heng, Duration: Thunder over Wind. An image of constancy that holds through change, of faithfulness to a direction without rigidity.
Key points
| Number | 32 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Heng (恆) |
| Approximate pronunciation | “hung” |
| Lower trigram | ☴ Xun, Wind (Wood) |
| Upper trigram | ☳ Zhen, Thunder |
| Lines (bottom to top) | yin, yang, yang, yang, yin, yin |
| Opposite hexagram | No. 42, Yi (increase), Increase |
| Other names | Constancy, Perseverance |
Hexagram 32 at a glance
Heng (恆) is the 32nd hexagram of the I Ching. The character means “lasting, constant, permanent”. It is most often translated as “Duration”; other editions say “Constancy” or “Perseverance”. It follows hexagram 31, Xian, attraction: after the initial impulse comes the question of time.
Thunder, movement, sits above Wind, a continuous breath. Two forces that answer each other and renew each other, without cancelling out.
The two trigrams
A hexagram is read from bottom to top. The lower trigram, also called the inner trigram, is Xun (Wind (Wood)); the upper trigram, also called the outer trigram, is Zhen (Thunder). The bottom represents the base of the situation, the top its context or outcome. Thunder over Wind: an impulse and a breath that prolong one another. The image commentary says that the noble person stands firm without changing direction.
Diagram of the six lines, from first to sixth: yin, yang, yang, yang, yin, yin. In the King Wen sequence, this hexagram forms a pair with No. 31, Xian, Influence; its opposite (all lines reversed) is No. 42, Yi (increase), Increase, and its reverse (read from top to bottom) is No. 31, Xian, Influence. Its nuclear hexagram, formed by the central lines, is No. 43, Guai, Breakthrough.
The judgement, in brief
The judgement is entirely positive: a favourable course, no fault, an advantage in persevering, an advantage in setting out. There is, however, a trap: what lasts is not what stays frozen.
The commentaries specify that the constancy of the stars lies in their very movement. To last is to change while keeping one's course.
General meaning
Heng speaks of faithfulness that unfolds over time: a commitment, a craft, a relationship, a discipline. It must not be confused with immobility: the text compares duration to a cycle that ends and begins again.
It also warns against two errors: digging too fast and too deep (wanting lasting results immediately), and scattering oneself in agitation (losing all constancy). True duration is built step by step.
The six lines, one by one
Lines counted from bottom to top. These very short paraphrases do not replace reading a full translation.
| Line | Image and idea |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin) | Digging too deep, too soon: demanding constancy from the outset brings nothing good. |
| 2 (yang) | Regrets fade: the measure is found. |
| 3 (yang) | Not holding to one's virtue: one exposes oneself to shame, and perseverance becomes burdensome. |
| 4 (yang) | Hunting in a field where there is no game: persevering in the wrong place is in vain. |
| 5 (yin) | Constancy in virtue: a submission that suits the one who follows, less so the one who must decide (a formula reflecting the social roles of the time). |
| 6 (yin) | Restlessly agitating, shaking duration: impatience leads to failure. |
Moving lines and the resulting hexagram
A moving line (a total of 6 or 9 when the three coins are tossed) changes into its opposite and gives a second hexagram, the resulting hexagram, which describes the direction the situation is taking. Here, lines 2, 3 and 4 are yang and lines 1, 5 and 6 are yin. The solid lines 2, 3 and 4 are at the centre; the broken lines 1, 5 and 6 are at the extremities. Line 1, which wants duration right away, is the most impatient; line 6, at the top, is the one of agitation.
| If the moving line is | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|
| 1 (yin becomes yang) | No. 34, Da Zhuang, Power of the Great |
| 2 (yang becomes yin) | No. 62, Xiao Guo, Preponderance of the Small |
| 3 (yang becomes yin) | No. 40, Xie, Deliverance |
| 4 (yang becomes yin) | No. 46, Sheng, Pushing Upward |
| 5 (yin becomes yang) | No. 28, Da Guo, Preponderance of the Great |
| 6 (yin becomes yang) | No. 50, Ding, the Cauldron |
Six moving lines give the opposite, No. 42, Yi (increase), Increase. With several moving lines, the schools disagree about which line to prioritise.
A modern reading, with caution
Heng invites you to look at what lasts in your life, and how. It encourages commitments kept with flexibility: routines, long-term projects, chosen loyalties.
- At work: build a sustainable rhythm rather than a spectacular effort.
- In relationships: nurture a bond over time, letting its form evolve.
- For yourself: keep a simple, regular habit; do not confuse constancy with obstinacy.
A reminder: the I Ching is a book of wisdom and of oracle, a tool for reflection and not a prediction; it does not replace medical, financial, legal or safety advice.
Questions for reflection
- What lasts in my life, and why?
- Where do I confuse constancy with stubbornness?
- At which stage am I too eager for a lasting result?
- What pace can I keep up without exhausting myself?
Mistakes to avoid
- Believing that lasting means never changing.
- Persevering in an area where the text says there is “no game”.
- Applying literally the formulas about the roles of the old society.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 32 of the I Ching mean?
Heng, Duration, evokes constancy that holds through change: faithfulness to one's course, but without rigidity.
Which trigrams make up Heng?
Wind or Wood (Xun) below and Thunder (Zhen) above.
Which hexagram accompanies it?
No. 31, Xian, Influence: attraction first, duration afterwards.
Does Heng promise a lasting couple?
No: the I Ching does not predict. It speaks of what allows a commitment to last, through flexibility and step by step.
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.