Hexagram 30

The Clinging Fire

离为火 · 离 · Lí | Fire over Fire

Fire clings to its fuel; clarity depends on what it rests upon.

ClarityAttachmentBrillianceDependence

Upper trigram

离 · Fire

Lower trigram

离 · Fire

The Judgment

“Perseverance furthers. It brings success. Caring for the cow brings good fortune.”

The Lines

Nine at the beginningHis steps are crisscrossed and confused. Be reverent about it, and there is no blame.

Six in the second placeYellow radiance. Supreme good fortune.

Nine in the third placeThe radiance of the setting sun. If one does not drum on the pot and sing, one wails in the lament of old age. Misfortune.

Nine in the fourth placeIts coming is sudden — it flares up, dies down, is cast away.

Six in the fifth placeTears pour out in floods, amid grief and sighing. Good fortune.

Nine at the topThe king sends forth a campaign; there is honor in beheading the leaders and taking captives who are not of their kind. No blame.

Line texts are an original modern translation of the classical Zhou Yi (public domain).

Meaning

Fire doubled—light that clings to what sustains it. Clarity and brilliance are real, but they depend on a steady support.

Guidance

Cultivate clarity while staying attached to what nourishes you; brilliance without grounding burns out.

When This Hexagram Appears

Insight and visibility that will only last if anchored to reliable support.

FAQ about Hexagram 30

What does Hexagram 30, The Clinging Fire, mean?

The Clinging Fire (离为火, hexagram 30 of the I Ching). Fire doubled—light that clings to what sustains it. Clarity and brilliance are real, but they depend on a steady support.

What is the Judgment of the The Clinging Fire hexagram?

The Judgment reads: “Perseverance furthers. It brings success. Caring for the cow brings good fortune.” Fire clings to its fuel; clarity depends on what it rests upon.

What guidance does Hexagram 30 offer?

Cultivate clarity while staying attached to what nourishes you; brilliance without grounding burns out.

When does the The Clinging Fire hexagram apply?

Insight and visibility that will only last if anchored to reliable support.

Related Hexagrams

Opposite Hexagram

No. 29 · The Abysmal Water

Every line changed to its opposite — the mirror situation.