复 · Fù — Return of the Light

Q: What is the meaning of I Ching Hexagram 24 (复 Fù)?

Hexagram 24 is 复 (Fù — Return of the Light), formed by 坤 Kun (Earth) above and 震 Zhen (Thunder) below. King Wen Sequence #24 (复 Fù — Return of the Light) embodies first spark of solstice thunder stirring deep underground. Assigned to the Kun Earth Palace (坤宫八卦 · Receptive Treasury) and resonant with Major Snow (大雪 · Zi Month), its six-line binary vector (100000) pairs 震 Zhen (Awakening Initiative) at the root with 坤 Kun (Receptive Devotion) at the crown.

Upper Trigram: 坤 Kun (Earth) · Lower Trigram: 震 Zhen (Thunder)

Cast 3-Coin Oracle

Classical Judgment (卦辞) — 复卦（第24卦）：上坤下震，属Kun。错卦为姤，综卦为剥，互卦见坤。

King Wen Sequence #24 (复 Fù — Return of the Light) embodies first spark of solstice thunder stirring deep underground. Assigned to the Kun Earth Palace (坤宫八卦 · Receptive Treasury) and resonant with Major Snow (大雪 · Zi Month), its six-line binary vector (100000) pairs 震 Zhen (Awakening Initiative) at the root with 坤 Kun (Receptive Devotion) at the crown.

Great Image (象传)

《大象传》：坤下震交感成复（䷗），君子观此象以明进退之枢。

Visual Archetype: plum blossom opening in twelfth-month snow. When Earth (Earth) interacts with Thunder (Wood), the primary strategic mandate centers on gentle recovery, circadian reset, and new cycle kickoff. Its Polarity Opposite (Cuo Gua · 错卦) is #44 姤 (Unexpected Encounter), its Overturned Inverse (Zong Gua · 综卦) is #23 剥 (Stripping Away the Old), and its Nuclear Core (Hu Gua · 互卦) reveals #2 坤 (The Receptive Earth).

Career, Strategy & Timing

Executive Decision Counsel

For decision-makers consulting 复 (Fù) regarding gentle recovery, circadian reset, and new cycle kickoff, the hexagram highlights the interplay between Wood foundation and Earth manifestation. Rather than generic haste, align execution with Major Snow (大雪 · Zi Month) rhythms and inspect whether your natal BaZi chart favors Earth or Wood as its Favorable Element (喜用神).

Six Lines Progression (六爻爻辞 · Bottom Line 1 to Top Line 6)

Line 1 (初九 · Root Threshold)初九：复之始，审势立基。

复 (Fù) Step 1 [Yang 9 · 震 Zhen]: Germination of first spark of solstice thunder stirring deep underground near plum blossom opening in twelfth-month snow; validate root premises before accelerating gentle recovery, circadian reset, and new cycle kickoff.

Line 2 (二六 · Inner Official)六二：中正居内，与五相应。

复 (Fù) Step 2 [Yin 6 · Thunder]: Central lower-trigram seat anchored in plum blossom opening in twelfth-month snow; cultivate Wood craftsmanship in harmony with #2 坤.

Line 3 (三六 · Trigram Pivot)六三：内卦之极，慎防过刚。

复 (Fù) Step 3 [Yin 6 · Nuclear #2 The Receptive Earth]: Threshold between 震 Zhen and 坤 Kun during Major Snow (大雪 · Zi Month); pace gentle recovery, circadian reset, and new cycle kickoff carefully.

Line 4 (四六 · Ministerial Gate)六四：跃入外卦，审时顺势。

复 (Fù) Step 4 [Yin 6 · 坤 Kun]: Ministerial counsel within the Kun Earth Palace (坤宫八卦 · Receptive Treasury); align first spark of solstice thunder stirring deep underground with institutional mentors.

Line 5 (五六 · Sovereign Axis)六五：尊位得中，大展宏图。

复 (Fù) Step 5 [Yin 6 · Sovereign]: Fulcrum of Return of the Light (䷗); command gentle recovery, circadian reset, and new cycle kickoff through balanced Earth and Wood synthesis.

Line 6 (上六 · Horizon Apex)上六：物极必反，归藏待时。

复 (Fù) Step 6 [Yin 6 · Apex]: Culmination of first spark of solstice thunder stirring deep underground, pivoting toward Inverse #23 剥 (Stripping Away the Old) and Opposite #44 姤.

BaZi & Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数) Connection

Spatial & Elemental Calibration for #24 复: Place a plum blossom opening in twelfth-month snow motif or Earth-element accent in your workspace; cross-reference Hexagram #44 (姤) when balancing Yin/Yang extremes.

Plot Natal BaZi Chart Check Tong Shu Almanac

#23 剥 Stripping Away the Old #25 无妄 Unentangled Integrity

INSTANT BILINGUAL ARCHIVAL DOSSIER (PRINTABLE HTML/PDF FOLIO)

Download Hexagram #24 (复 Fù) 6 Changing Lines Commentary

Get line-by-line classical Yao Ci (爻辞) interpretations from bottom Line 1 (Initial) to top Line 6 (Culmination).