家人
37. The Family
jiā rén; The clan, inner order
Judgment
家人：利女贞。
The perseverance of the woman furthers. Order at home comes from each member holding their place.
Image
风自火出，家人；君子以言有物而行有恒。
Wind comes forth from fire: the image of the family. The noble person has substance in their words and duration in their way of life.
Lines
- Line 1, yang (nine)
初九：闲有家，悔亡。
Firm seclusion within the family. Remorse disappears. Set rules and culture at the founding.
- Line 2, yin (six)
六二：无攸遂，在中馈，贞吉。
She should not follow her whims. She must attend within to the food. Perseverance brings good fortune. Do your own role well to support the whole.
- Line 3, yang (nine)
九三：家人嗃嗃，悔厉吉；妇子嘻嘻，终吝。
When tempers flare up in the family, too great severity brings remorse—good fortune nonetheless. When woman and child dally and laugh, it leads in the end to humiliation. Better firm than lax.
- Line 4, yin (six)
六四：富家，大吉。
She is the treasure of the house: great good fortune. Internal resources abundant, the organisation stable.
- Line 5, yang (nine)
九五：王假有家，勿恤吉。
As a king he approaches his family. Fear not. Good fortune. The leader's example rights the house.
- Line 6, yang (nine)
上九：有孚威如，终吉。
His work commands respect. In the end good fortune comes. Governance that combines trust and authority.
In the enterprise
The hexagram of family business, internal governance and organisational culture: family-business governance, culture building, clarity of roles, family charters. 'Substance in words, duration in conduct': culture is not slogans but verifiable consistency of word and deed.
Psychological lens
Resonates with family systems theory (Bowen) and organisational citizenship behaviour; line 3 echoes parenting research: authoritative beats permissive.
Related hexagrams
64. 未济 Before Completion
Lines 2–4 and 3–5: the hidden dynamics inside the situation.Opposite
40. 解 Deliverance
Every line reversed: the shadow side and blind spots.Inverse
38. 睽 Opposition
The figure turned upside down: the counterpart's or stakeholder's view.King Wen pair
38. 睽 Opposition
Situations in the library that use this hexagram
- Lean reduced to slogans Enterprise, Judgment
- Building a safety culture Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
- European staff adapting to Chinese management Enterprise, Line 3, yang (nine)
- Financial transparency and budget discipline Enterprise, Line 4, yin (six)
- Family members and professional managers Enterprise, Line 2, yin (six)
- Drafting a family constitution Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
- Family vs. career Individuals, Judgment
- Strict or permissive parenting? Individuals, Line 3, yang (nine)
- Buying property with family Individuals, Line 4, yin (six)
- Going into business with family Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
- Setting up a family foundation Individuals, Line 6, yang (nine)
- Sharing space with family Individuals, Line 5, yang (nine)
Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.