初
初六。童観、小人无咎、君子吝。
Childlike viewing—no blame for the small person, but shameful for the noble. Grow your perspective.
䷓
Hexagram 20
Contemplation (Viewing) (風地観)
Fūchi-kan / Guān
Wind over earth surveys all—see clearly and be seen as an example. Sincerity matters more than ritual.
Judgment
観。盥而不薦、有孚顒若。
Viewing. After washing, do not yet sacrifice—sincerity shines with reverent bearing.
Look deeply to find essence; be a model yourself. True heart outweighs ceremony.
Line-by-Line (Yao)
Interpretations if the line changes.
二
六二。闚観、利女貞。
Peeking view—correct for a woman. Limited scope suits a supporting role.
三
六三。観我生、進退。
Viewing my own life—consider advance and retreat. Self-reflection guides moves.
四
六四。観国之光、利用賓于王。
Viewing the light of the state—good to serve as guest to the king. Witnessing governance inspires service.
五
九五。観我生、君子无咎。
Viewing my life—no blame to the noble. Personal integrity stands examined.
上
上九。観其生、君子无咎。
Viewing others’ lives—no blame to the noble. Detached insight without interference.
Practical Reading: Love, Career, Health & Decisions
When you cast Hexagram 20, Guān (Contemplation), the Book of Changes shows you a situation with Xun (Wind) above and Kun (Earth) below. Wind over earth surveys all—see clearly and be seen as an example. Sincerity matters more than ritual. Use the cards below to map that pattern onto your specific question — a love reading, a career decision, a health concern, or a yes/no choice.
Love & Relationships
Observe your partner carefully; seek substance over appearance. In a love or relationship reading, Hexagram 20 (Guān) describes the meeting point of Xun (wind) above and Kun (earth) below: how the outer situation meets your inner state. Ask whether you are forcing the relationship to fit a picture, or letting it move at the rhythm this hexagram suggests. For a partnered question, read the changing lines to see which side — yours or the other person's — is being asked to shift.
Work & Career
Study the whole situation before acting; lead by example. In work and career, Guān points to whether the outer market or workplace (Xun (wind)) and your inner stance (Kun (earth)) are in alignment. If a project, negotiation, or job change is the question, ask what this hexagram says about timing rather than effort: pushing harder rarely changes a Guān situation; reading the configuration usually does.
Health & Wellbeing
Monitor subtle changes; attentive care prevents issues. For a body or wellness reading, treat the lines of Hexagram 20 as descriptions of phases, not diagnoses. Guān usually signals where energy needs to be conserved versus where it is asking to be expressed. Combine the hexagram's advice with concrete medical guidance — the I Ching is a reflective tool, not a substitute for professional care.
Decision-Making
When the question is a yes/no — should I take the offer, move, leave, commit? — read Hexagram 20 (Guān, Contemplation) as a statement about the configuration of your situation rather than the outcome. The summary "Wind over earth surveys all—see clearly and be seen as an example. Sincerity matters more than ritual." is your starting frame. Ask: does this action respect that configuration, or fight it? Changing lines, if any, tell you which specific aspect needs to bend.
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