Hexagram 1 乾, Line 1
乾
Hexagram 1 · first line, undivided (nine)
潛龍勿用。
In the first (or lowest) line, undivided, (we see its subject as) the dragon lying hid (in the deep). It is not the time for active doing.
James Legge (1882), public domain.
Small image (小象)
潛龍勿用，陽在下也。
If only this line changes, hexagram 1 becomes hexagram 44.
← Hexagram 1 乾: judgment and all lines
Character glossary
- 潛qiánto hide; secret, latent, hidden
- 龍lóngdragon; symbol of the emperor
- 勿wùmust not, do not; without, never
- 用yòngto use, to employ, to apply; use
- 陽yángthe male principle; bright, sunny; clear
- 在zàiat, in, on; to exist; used to indicate t
- 下xiàbelow, underneath; inferior; to bring do
- 也yěalso, too
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.