I Ching Hexagram 55: Feng (豐), Abundance — Meaning and Lines
I Ching hexagram 55, Feng (豐): Abundance. Fire beneath Thunder, the judgment, six lines, and a careful reading.
Key points
| Number | 55 of 64 (King Wen sequence) |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | Feng (豐) |
| Name in French | Feng, l'Abondance |
| Lower trigram | ☲ Li, the Fire |
| Upper trigram | ☳ Zhen, the Thunder |
| Image | Thunder and lightning together: clarity and impulse at their height |
| Reversed hexagram | No. 56, Lü, The Wanderer |
| Nature of the text | A book of wisdom and oracle, a tool for reflection, not a prediction |
Feng: what is it about?
Hexagram 55, Feng (豐, pronounced roughly "fung"), is the hexagram of abundance, of fullness. The character depicts a vessel filled with offerings. According to the commentary on the sequence of the hexagrams, it follows The Marrying Maiden: whoever finds their place becomes great.
The two trigrams
The first three lines (at the bottom) form the lower trigram, the last three the upper one. Here, the Fire (Li) sits beneath the Thunder (Zhen).
| Position | Trigram | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Upper (top) | ☳ Zhen, the Thunder | The thunder |
| Lower (bottom) | ☲ Li, the Fire | The fire |
Fire beneath Thunder: the flash and the rumble come together. It is clarity (the Fire) united with movement (the Thunder).
The judgment in brief
The judgment promises success: the king arrives, one should not be worried, it is good to act at midday. The ancient commentary adds a sober wisdom: the sun, once at its zenith, begins to decline, and the full moon wanes. My summary: welcome fullness without fear and without illusion, for it does not last. The Image sees in it the clarity and firmness of the judge who examines cases and applies the penalties.
General meaning
Feng describes a summit: abundance, brilliance, full light. Yet most of the lines speak of shadows: screens that hide the day, stars visible at noon. Many commentators read here a solar eclipse; others, a more general veil.
The message is that of the right moment: enjoying abundance without shutting oneself inside it.
The six lines, from bottom to top
Each line is summarised in my own words; the ancient text is very elliptical, and commentators complete it in different ways.
- Line 1, at the bottom (yang). One meets one's host, one's equal: even ten days together, no fault. Going forward is esteemed.
- Line 2 (yin). A great screen hides the day: at midday, one sees the Dipper (the Great Bear). To advance arouses suspicion; sincerity leads to a favourable outcome.
- Line 3 (yang). A great curtain, small stars at noon: one breaks one's right arm, without fault. An obstruction that deprives one of support.
- Line 4 (yang). The same screen as in line 2, but one meets a lord who is one's equal: good. The darkness dissolves through the encounter.
- Line 5 (yin). Brilliance arrives, with celebration and renown: good fortune.
- Line 6, at the top (yin). One enlarges one's house, and hides one's family behind screens; one peers through the door: silence, no one; three years without showing oneself. Misfortune. Abundance that isolates.
The changing lines
A "changing" line is about to turn into its opposite. One reads its text, then the hexagram that arises from the change, taken as the direction the situation is taking; the schools diverge when several lines are changing.
| Changing line | Change | Resulting hexagram |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | yang becomes yin | No. 62, Xiao Guo, Preponderance of the Small |
| Line 2 | yin becomes yang | No. 34, Da Zhuang, The Power of the Great |
| Line 3 | yang becomes yin | No. 51, Zhen, The Arousing |
| Line 4 | yang becomes yin | No. 36, Ming Yi, Darkening of the Light |
| Line 5 | yin becomes yang | No. 49, Ge, Revolution |
| Line 6 | yin becomes yang | No. 30, Li, The Clinging Fire |
Changing all six lines together would give No. 59 (Huan, Dispersion). Lines 2 to 4 revolve around darkness at midday; line 6 pushes the image to its extreme: a house too large, behind which one disappears.
A careful modern reading
Feng is read as a reflection on a moment of success: a new position, a celebration, a prosperous period. Current readings find three paths in it: keep clarity of mind, do not isolate oneself behind one's successes, and prepare for decline without dreading it. Nothing announces that abundance will come; and for any financial choice, it is a qualified adviser who should be consulted.
Questions for reflection
- What do I already have in abundance without seeing it?
- What is hiding the light from me at midday?
- With whom can I share what I have, rather than withdrawing?
- How can I prepare for decline without thinking about it constantly?
Mistakes to avoid
- Believing in a promise of financial success: the text speaks of fullness and of its decline.
- Shutting oneself inside success: line 6 shows its price.
- Taking hexagram 55 as a prediction or as medical, financial, legal or safety advice: the I Ching is a tool for reflection, and such decisions belong to a professional.
Other names and other translations
The name "Feng, Abundance" follows one translation tradition among others; in Chinese, it is Feng (豐). Other translations speak of fullness, prosperity or opulence; in English, "abundance", "fullness" or "abounding".
In King Wen's sequence, it forms a pair with No. 56 (Lü, The Wanderer), whose figure is this one turned upside down. Full list: the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching.
Frequently asked questions
What does hexagram 55 of the I Ching mean?
Feng, abundance: a moment of fullness and light, together with the awareness that the summit is fleeting.
Which trigrams make up hexagram 55?
Li, the Fire, below, and Zhen, the Thunder, above.
Why is there talk of stars at midday?
The image describes darkness in broad daylight. Many commentators read here a solar eclipse; others see a veil or a more general obstacle.
Is Feng a hexagram of wealth?
Not in the sense of a promised gain. It speaks of fullness, brilliance, and the way to live it, including when it declines.
What happens when a line of hexagram 55 is changing?
It turns into its opposite and gives rise to a second hexagram, read as the direction the situation is taking. The table on this page gives the resulting hexagram for each of the six lines.
Can hexagram 55 be relied on to make a decision?
It can feed reflection, but it can never replace the advice of a professional. For health, money, law or safety, consult the competent person; in case of distress, call 3114 (in France) or 112 (the emergency number across the European Union).
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.