The Four Virtues of the I Ching: Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen

In the I Ching (Book of Changes), the four characters "Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen" (元亨利贞) are extremely vital. They represent not only the different levels of auspiciousness or misfortune in a hexagram, but also indicate whether a matter possesses the prerequisites for success, development, profitability, and long-term stability.

The great Song Dynasty Confucian scholar Cheng Yi stated in Cheng's Commentary on the I Ching (Cheng Shi Yi Zhuan):

"Yuan, Heng, Li, and Zhen are called the Four Virtues. Yuan is the beginning of all things; Heng is the growth of all things; Li is the fulfillment of all things; Zhen is the completion of all things."

Put simply:

Yuan (元): The beginning, the source, natural innocence, the original state.
Heng (亨): Prosperity, smooth progress, the potential for expansion and development.
Li (利): Beneficial, profitable, yielding positive returns or inherent value.
Zhen (贞): Righteousness, fairness, stability, the capacity to persevere over the long term.

Yuan Heng Li Zhen: The Four Stages of Life and Career

Many also view "Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen" as the four distinct stages of life and career development:

Yuan: The initial launch or startup phase.
Heng: Progressive growth and expansion.
Li: Achieving tangible results and fruits.
Zhen: Reaching long-term stability and sustainability.

Take an entrepreneurial startup project as an example:

"Yuan" represents the initial creative spark and starting steps;
"Heng" signifies the gradual opening and capturing of the market;
"Li" marks the turning point where the business begins to turn a profit;
"Zhen" represents long-term, stable, and sustainable operations.

Many endeavors in life only possess "Yuan" (easy to start), or only reach "Heng" (short-term smooth sailing), or even stop at "Li" (making quick money). What is truly difficult to achieve is "Zhen"—maintaining a righteous, stable, and dignified momentum over a prolonged period.

Out of the 64 Hexagrams, Only Six Possess All Four Virtues

Among the 64 Hexagrams of the I Ching, not every single one contains all four virtues of "Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen." In fact, there are only six hexagrams that fully encompass all four:

Hexagram 1: Qian (The Creative / Heaven)
Hexagram 19: Lin (Approach)
Hexagram 3: Chun (Difficulty at the Beginning)
Hexagram 17: Sui (Following)
Hexagram 49: Ge (Revolution)
Hexagram 25: Wuwang (Innocence / The Unexpected)

This highlights a core tenet of the I Ching: Matters that can seamlessly transition from a successful beginning, smooth development, and profitability all the way to long-term stability are rare.

Qian Hexagram: The Source of the Four Virtues

Qian: Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen.

The Qian hexagram represents the Way of Heaven, ultimate creativity, and ceaseless self-strengthening. It serves as the fountainhead of all virtues in the I Ching.

The Tuan Zhuan (Commentary on the Decision) states:

"Great indeed is the generating power of Qian (the Creative Element)! All things owe their beginning to it; it contains all overarching Heaven."

The Qian hexagram symbolizes a proactive, constantly innovating, and forward-surging force. Consequently, it completely fulfills:

The ability to initiate;
The ability to develop;
The ability to yield benefits;
The ability to sustain long-term stability.

Hence, the Xiang Zhuan (Commentary on the Images) declares:

"The movement of heaven is full of power. Thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring."

Lin Hexagram: The Coping Ability When Matters Arrive

Lin: Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen.

The Lin hexagram stands for "the capability to handle situations as they arrive directly before you."

In life, what truly tests a person is not the tranquil periods, but the exact moments when significant matters present themselves right before their eyes.

The Lin hexagram teaches us that:

One must possess an inclusive capacity;
One must master administrative and management skills;
One must be capable of educating others;
One must know how to protect the masses.

Therefore, the Xiang Zhuan says:

"The superior man is inexhaustible in his will to teach, and boundless in his tolerance and protection of the people."

Chun Hexagram: Hardships in the Initial Phases of Venture

Chun: Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen.

The Chun hexagram represents the universal truth that all things are difficult at their inception.

Launching a startup, acquiring new knowledge, beginning a career path, or undergoing a major life transformation are all reminiscent of the Chun hexagram:

Insufficient resources;
A lack of practical experience;
Overwhelming hurdles and difficulties;
A chaotic and unorganized initial landscape.

However, as long as the core direction is correct and one remains dedicated to steady accumulation, it is entirely possible to break through and clear the horizon.

Thus, the Chun hexagram emphasizes:

"It furthers one to appoint helpers (Li Jian Hou)."

Which means: One must build a supportive team, accumulate foundational resources, and nurture core strengths.

Sui Hexagram: Moving with the Flow

Sui: Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen, Wu Jiu (No Blame).

The Sui hexagram does not advocate blind following, but rather the wisdom of adapting to the times and shifting trends.

Truly clever individuals do not blindly force their way against obstacles continuously; instead, they discern:

When it is time to press forward;
When it is wiser to wait patiently;
When it is necessary to pivot or change;
When it is time to rest and rejuvenate.

The Xiang Zhuan states:

"At nightfall the superior man goes indoors for rest and recuperation."

This implies that: Aligning one's actions with natural cycles and laws is the epitome of true wisdom.

Ge Hexagram: True Transformation and Radical Change

Ge: On the day of completion, there is belief. Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen. Remorse disappears.

The Ge hexagram represents reform, revolution, and major, structural transformations.

Yet the philosophy of the I Ching posits that true transformation must never stem from raw impulse.

It requires that:

The proper timing has fully matured;
The hearts and minds of the people offer genuine alignment;
All supporting conditions are fully prepared;
The overarching objective is correct.

Only under these conditions can a reform bring about:

Ultimate success;
Prosperous results;
Long-term institutional stability;
An absence of future regret.

Hence, the I Ching actively discourages thoughtless or chaotic agitation.

Wuwang Hexagram: True Authenticity and Naturalness

Wuwang: Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen.

"Wuwang" does not merely translate to "the unexpected" or "free from rashness."

Its deeper philosophical essence implies:

Refraining from reckless or unlawful actions;
Avoiding thoughtless or ungrounded movements;
Preserving absolute sincerity and authenticity;
Upholding one's original, innate nature.

The Wuwang hexagram stresses:

"Great progress through what is right is the heavenly decree."

In essence: Only matters that genuinely align with natural laws and standard human conscience can secure long-term, enduring good fortune.

Why Does Kun Hexagram Lack the Full "Yuan Heng Li Zhen"?

An interesting phenomenon in the text is that although the Kun hexagram (The Receptive / Earth) is exceptionally great, it does not fully claim all four virtues of "Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen."

The core judgment of Kun states only:

"Yuan, Heng."

It modifies the latter part, specifying "the perseverance of a mare" rather than the absolute independent "Li, Zhen."

The Kun hexagram embodies:

Humility and lowliness;
Inclusiveness and tolerance;
Bearing and sustaining burdens;
Yielding and compliance;
Sustaining all things with deep virtue (Hou De Zai Wu).

It explicitly prioritizes: Fulfilling and supporting others rather than aggressively pursuing its own distinct interest or claim.

For this reason, scholars observe that: The virtue of Kun (Kun De) represents a profound spirit of "non-contention."

Yuan Heng Li Zhen: True Auspiciousness Beyond Superficial Luck

Many simplify the concept of "auspiciousness" (Ji) in the I Ching to mean simple good luck.

However, what the I Ching is actually evaluating is:

Whether an endeavor has a rational and sound point of origin;
Whether it possesses the stamina to steadily expand;
Whether it delivers genuine, meaningful value;
Whether it is robust enough to survive over the long term.

This is the true, structural meaning behind "Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen."

Therefore, the I Ching does not merely predict surface-level fortune or misfortune; it analyzes:

Whether a matter fundamentally aligns with the underlying laws of long-term cosmic and human development.

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