Hexagram 55: Abundance
By Wendy Zhang, Founder of Solacely · Updated
豐 · Fēng
Abundance. Success. The king reaches it. Do not grieve; be like the sun at midday.
The judgment
亨。王假之，勿憂，宜日中。
Abundance. Success. The king reaches it. Do not grieve; be like the sun at midday.
The image
雷電皆至，豐；君子以折獄致刑。
Thunder and lightning arrive together: the image of Abundance. The noble person decides lawsuits and carries out penalties.
Lightning (clarity) and thunder (movement) strike together: brilliant insight and decisive action at the same time. Fullness and power at their peak.
What Abundance means
Abundance describes fullness at its height: success, resources, influence, or vitality all at a peak. The judgment says the king reaches this state, and advises not to grieve but to shine like the midday sun. The underlying wisdom is that peaks do not last; the sun at noon must decline. Yet sadness about the future would waste the present. Commentators emphasize using the fullness wisely while it lasts, making clear decisions and acting with integrity. The Image focuses on justice: clarity and decisive action combine to settle matters fairly. In real terms, this hexagram may describe a successful phase in work or relationships. Use it to make important decisions, share generously, and resolve lingering issues. Avoid complacency, arrogance, or worrying about decline. The lines warn about obscured clarity and hollow display. Abundance is best when it shines openly and serves others.
In love and relationships
Love may feel full and vibrant now. Enjoy the warmth without worrying about whether it will last. Use this good time to strengthen communication and make meaningful decisions. Avoid taking each other for granted. Singles may feel especially attractive and confident.
At work
Work may be at a high point: success, recognition, or peak productivity. Make key decisions while clarity is strong. Share credit and support others. Address problems while you have resources. Plan for changes ahead without letting fear dampen present momentum.
The six lines
Read a line when it is a changing line in your cast (a 6 or a 9).
遇其配主，雖旬无咎，往有尚。
Meeting a well-matched partner. Even for ten days, no blame. Going forward brings recognition.
You meet a partner who matches you, clarity paired with movement, the first line answering the fourth. Spending time together, even a full cycle of ten days, is blameless and productive. Going forward together brings recognition. Make the most of this alliance while the timing supports it, and value what each of you brings that the other lacks.
豐其蔀，日中見斗，往得疑疾，有孚發若，吉。
The curtain is so thick that at midday you see the Dipper. Going forward brings suspicion and resentment. With sincerity, opening up brings good fortune.
The curtain is so thick that at noon you can see the Dipper. The ruler above is weak and your clarity goes unseen. Pushing ahead would only stir suspicion. This central, correct line is told to rely on sincerity instead. Keep your intentions honest and patient, and let them be felt rather than argued. In time, that sincerity opens things up.
豐其沛，日中見沬，折其右肱，无咎。
The canopy is so dense that at midday you see the small stars. He breaks his right arm. No blame.
The darkness deepens: at noon even the faint small stars show, and you break your right arm. Your ability to act is impaired, and the obstruction is not your fault. This strong line at the top of the inner trigram is paired with a weak line above. Accept the limitation, wait, and do not force action without the tools you need.
豐其蔀，日中見斗，遇其夷主，吉。
The curtain is so thick that at midday you see the Dipper. Meeting a lord of like mind. Good fortune.
Shadows still hang over everything, and the Dipper shows at midday. Yet you meet a lord of like mind, the first line, who shares your aims. Together you can work through the obscurity. Seek out those who truly understand you and join forces. This partnership turns poor conditions into real opportunity and brings good fortune.
來章，有慶譽，吉。
Bringing in brilliance, there is celebration and praise. Good fortune.
In the ruler’s place, this yielding line draws in brilliance: capable, clear-sighted people whose talents it welcomes. Openness to others’ gifts brings celebration and praise. Gather skilled helpers and give them room and credit. When abundance is shared this way, it multiplies rather than drains, and everyone involved benefits from the good fortune.
豐其屋，蔀其家，窺其戶，闃其无人，三歲不觌，凶。
Abundance in his house, curtains around his home. Peering through the door, it is quiet, no one there. For three years no one is seen. Misfortune.
At the top, abundance has turned into isolation. The house is grand, the household screened off; peering in through the door, all is silent, and no one is seen for three years. Wealth or pride has walled you in. Watch for arrogance and withdrawal. Reach out, share, and reconnect before the silence becomes permanent.
Advice
Shine fully while the moment is bright and make the decisions that clarity allows. Do not waste the peak worrying about decline.
A question to reflect on
How can I make the most of this full moment without fearing its end?