Six Lines I Ching Divination Terminology, Wen Wang Gua and Na Jia Glossary

👤 By I Ching Researcher

📅 February 5, 2026

⏱️ 4 min read

📂 Divination, I Ching Basics

A Practical Glossary for Consistent Discussion

In English discussions of Six Lines divination (Wen Wang Gua, Na Jia), confusion often arises not from lack of knowledge, but from inconsistent terminology. The same Chinese concept may be translated in multiple ways, or different concepts may be collapsed into one word.

This page provides a short, public, and intentionally partial glossary of high-frequency terms used in Six Lines readings and case discussions. Its purpose is not to teach the full system, but to help readers follow reasoning steps consistently when reading or discussing cases.

Core Structural Terms

Host Line
The line representing the diviner or the primary subject of the question. It serves as the anchor for judgment.

Corresponding Line
The line that directly interacts with the host line, often representing the other party, environment, or responding side of the situation.

Line Movement and Visibility

Active Line
A line that changes during the cast. Active lines indicate factors that are in motion and often drive development.

Static Line
A line that does not change, representing stable or background conditions.

Covert Activation
A line that appears static but becomes influential due to timing, interaction, or hidden structural conditions.

Strength and Condition

Prosperous and Supportive
A line that is strong, well-positioned, and reinforced by timing or surrounding factors.

Rest
A line that is present but temporarily inactive.

Constraint
A line whose function is restricted by opposing forces or unfavorable conditions.

Dead
A line that has lost practical influence in the reading.

Timing and Void States

Void in the Cycle
A condition where a line lacks effective timing support, often indicating delay or uncertainty unless later resolved.

Daily Break
A disruption caused by daily timing factors that weaken a line’s function.

Monthly Break
A broader timing-based disruption that can override otherwise favorable conditions.

Interaction Terms

Compatibility
A harmonious interaction that allows influence to pass smoothly between lines.

Clash
A direct conflict producing tension, obstruction, or abrupt change.

Compatibility Encountering Clash
A mixed condition where harmony and conflict coexist.

Compatibility Within the Clash
A situation where resolution or support emerges from within apparent conflict.

Resonance Patterns

Contradictory Echo
A resonance pattern where the structure turns against itself. In practice, contradictory echo often signals reversal, internal conflict, or outcomes that move opposite to initial expectations.

Repetitive Echo
A resonance pattern where the structure repeats without real progression. It is commonly associated with stagnation, delay, or looping circumstances until conditions change.

Return Effects

Return Generation
In this return effect, the active line transforms and ultimately generates the active line. It commonly points to delayed support or benefit.

Return Overcoming
In this return effect, the active line transforms and ultimately overcomes the active line. It commonly points to a later-stage restriction or a built-in counterforce.

Hidden and Flying Influences

Hidden Influence
A factor not directly visible in the primary structure but exerting influence beneath the surface, often explaining deviations from expected outcomes.

Flying Influence
A factor that actively projects influence across positions or relationships, frequently acting as a trigger or amplifier.

Six Relationships

Parents Line
Associated with protection, learning, documentation, structure, and sustaining resources.

Siblings Line
Associated with peers, competition, sharing, and parallel forces.

Officials and Ghosts Line
Associated with authority, pressure, obligation, disputes, illness, and adversarial forces.

Wife and Wealth Line
Associated with money, assets, value exchange, and material gain.

Descendants Line
Associated with outcomes, relief, release of pressure, enjoyment, and downstream results.

Six Gods

Azure Loong
Associated with growth, opportunity, assistance, and favorable momentum.

Vermilion Bird
Associated with communication, expression, visibility, and disputes involving speech or documentation.

Hooked Snake
Associated with entanglement, delay, hidden complications, and psychological pressure.

Soaring Snake
Associated with illusion, anxiety, uncertainty, and deceptive appearances.

White Tiger
Associated with conflict, harm, accidents, enforcement, and decisive outcomes.

Black Tortoise
Associated with concealment, secrecy, theft, strategy, and background operations.

Functional Roles in Judgment

Significator Line
The line selected to represent the core issue being examined.

Source God
The factor that generates or supports the significator line.

Obstacle God
The factor that restricts or undermines the significator line.

Adversary God
The factor that actively opposes the significator line.

Why This Glossary Is Partial

Six Lines I Ching divination is a large, layered system. This glossary focuses only on high-frequency terminology used in real case reading. It intentionally omits many mappings, formulas, and advanced structures used by experienced practitioners.

The goal is simple:
If readers can agree on these terms, they can follow the logic of a reading, even when they disagree on the conclusion.

Usage Note

This glossary is provided as a public reference for discussion consistency.
If you quote or reference these definitions elsewhere, please cite I Ching Stream.