61. Inner Truth

Judgment

中孚：豚鱼吉，利涉大川，利贞。

Pigs and fishes. Good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water. Perseverance furthers. Sincerity can move even the hardest to reach.

Image

泽上有风，中孚；君子以议狱缓死。

Wind over the lake: the image of inner truth. The noble person discusses criminal cases in order to delay executions—treating people with sincerity and humaneness.

Lines

1. Line 1, yang (nine)

   初九：虞吉，有它不燕。

   Being prepared brings good fortune. If there are secret designs, it is disquieting. Once there is duplicity, trust is hard to sustain.

2. Line 2, yang (nine)

   九二：鸣鹤在阴，其子和之；我有好爵，吾与尔靡之。

   A crane calling in the shade. Its young answers it. I have a good goblet. I will share it with you. Sincere resonance needs no effort; kindred spirits respond.

3. Line 3, yin (six)

   六三：得敌，或鼓或罢，或泣或歌。

   He finds a comrade. Now he beats the drum, now he stops. Now he sobs, now he sings. Without an inner centre, emotions follow the opponent.

4. Line 4, yin (six)

   六四：月几望，马匹亡，无咎。

   The moon nearly at the full. The team horse goes astray. No blame. Loyal to a higher principle, one lets go of a companion.

5. Line 5, yang (nine)

   九五：有孚挛如，无咎。

   He possesses truth, which links together. No blame. A leader's integrity binds everyone together.

6. Line 6, yang (nine)

   上九：翰音登于天，贞凶。

   Cockcrow penetrating to heaven. Perseverance brings misfortune. Claims beyond reality fail.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of integrity, trust and authentic communication: brand credibility, investor relations, building trust across cultures, ESG authenticity (anti-greenwashing), good faith in negotiation. 'Cockcrow penetrating to heaven' is a direct warning against greenwashing and over-marketing: when the voice outruns reality, misfortune.

Psychological lens

Resonates with the psychology of trust (ability, integrity, benevolence) and word–deed alignment; line 2 offers a metaphor of emotional resonance.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• Building trust in a new market Enterprise, Judgment
• Over-marketing Enterprise, Line 6, yang (nine)
• Price transparency Enterprise, Line 5, yang (nine)
• Keeping integrity in negotiation Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Trust between a European team and a Chinese HQ Enterprise, Judgment
• Speaking publicly in a crisis Enterprise, Line 3, yin (six)
• Greenwashing risk Enterprise, Line 6, yang (nine)
• Winning the first customer Individuals, Line 2, yang (nine)
• A long-distance relationship Individuals, Line 2, yang (nine)
• Insecurity in a relationship Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Guilt about living far from home Individuals, Line 2, yang (nine)
• Let down by a friend Individuals, Line 4, yin (six)
• Money and trust Individuals, Line 5, yang (nine)
• Sincerity in writing Individuals, Judgment
• Relationships in later life Individuals, Line 2, yang (nine)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.