Interlocking, Opposite, and Reversed Hexagrams (互卦 Hu Gua, 错卦 Cuo Gua, 综卦 Zong Gua) in Liu Yao Divination

Overview

In the sophisticated practice of Liu Yao (六爻) divination—also known as Six Lines or Yijing (易经) divination—practitioners typically begin with the Ben Gua (本卦), or "original hexagram," which represents the current state of the question at hand. However, the wise diviner understands that surface appearances rarely tell the complete story. To achieve a truly comprehensive reading, masters employ three powerful transformational techniques: Hu Gua (互卦), Cuo Gua (错卦), and Zong Gua (综卦).

These three methods serve as analytical lenses that reveal different dimensions of a situation. While the Ben Gua shows the obvious, external reality, Hu Gua (互卦, Interlocking Hexagram) exposes the underlying mechanics and hidden influences; Cuo Gua (错卦, Opposite Hexagram) reveals the shadow side or opposite potential; and Zong Gua (综卦, Reversed Hexagram) offers insight into how the situation appears from the opposite perspective or how it might evolve when circumstances invert. Together, these transformations form a complete analytical framework that prevents the diviner from making one-dimensional judgments.

Key Concepts

Hu Gua (互卦) — The Interlocking or Internal Hexagram

The term Hu Gua (互卦) literally translates to "mutual" or "interlocking" hexagram, though it is perhaps better understood as the "internal" hexagram. This transformation extracts the "inner story" from within the primary hexagram by using specific lines to construct a new hexagram that represents the hidden dynamics driving the visible situation.

Philosophically, if the Ben Gua represents the skin—the visible exterior of an organism—then the Hu Gua represents the bones, muscles, and organs operating beneath the surface. It reveals the intermediate processes, the behind-the-scenes negotiations, and the underlying causes that are not immediately apparent to observers. In practical divination, Hu Gua often indicates what is really happening in the background of a situation, the true motives of involved parties, or the developmental stages that will occur between the present moment and the final outcome.

Cuo Gua (错卦) — The Opposite or Transformed Hexagram

Cuo Gua (错卦), sometimes referred to as Fu Gua (伏卦) or the "hidden hexagram," is created by inverting every line in the original hexagram—changing all solid (yang) lines to broken (yin) lines and vice versa. This represents the polar opposite of the current situation, the "shadow" reality where every yang energy becomes yin and every yin becomes yang.

This transformation embodies the Daoist principle of complementary opposition. Just as night is the cuo gua of day, and winter is the cuo gua of summer, this hexagram shows what happens when the current energies completely invert. In divination practice, Cuo Gua serves as a warning system, revealing worst-case scenarios, alternative universes where opposite choices were made, or the hidden vulnerabilities that exist precisely because of the current strengths. It answers the question: "What if everything were the opposite of what it appears to be?"

Zong Gua (综卦) — The Reversed or Inverted Hexagram

Zong Gua (综卦), also known as "Fu Gua" (覆卦, overlapping term with Cuo Gua but distinct in meaning here) or the "overturned" hexagram, is generated by physically rotating the hexagram 180 degrees, effectively turning it upside down. The first line (初爻, Chu Yao) swaps places with the sixth line (上爻, Shang Yao), the second with the fifth, and the third with the fourth.

This transformation represents perspective shift. In a dispute, if the Ben Gua shows your position, the Zong Gua shows your opponent's view. In a journey, it shows the return trip. It embodies the relational nature of reality—how situations look fundamentally different when viewed from the opposite vantage point. The famous Chinese idiom "Pi Ji Tai Lai" (否极泰来)—meaning "when extreme adversity reaches its peak, prosperity follows"—derives from the Zong Gua relationship between Hexagram 12 (Pi/Standstill) and Hexagram 11 (Tai/Peace), which are mutual Zong Gua of each other.

How It Works / How to Use

Deriving Hu Gua (互卦)

To extract the Hu Gua from your primary hexagram:

1. Identify the six lines of your Ben Gua, numbered from bottom (1) to top (6).
2. For the lower trigram (下卦) of the Hu Gua, use lines 2, 3, and 4 of the original hexagram.
3. For the upper trigram (上卦) of the Hu Gua, use lines 3, 4, and 5 of the original hexagram.
4. Combine these two trigrams to form the new hexagram.

Note that line 3 and line 4 serve as the bridge between both trigrams, emphasizing that the Hu Gua represents the transitional middle state of the situation.

Deriving Cuo Gua (错卦)

The derivation of Cuo Gua is mathematically straightforward but philosophically profound:

1. Examine each of the six lines in your Ben Gua.
2. Change every yang line (阳爻, solid line) to a yin line (阴爻, broken line).
3. Change every yin line to a yang line.
4. The resulting configuration is your Cuo Gua.

For example, if your Ben Gua is Qian (乾, The Creative, all solid lines), your Cuo Gua becomes Kun (坤, The Receptive, all broken lines)—the ultimate complementary pair.

Deriving Zong Gua (综卦)

To create the Zong Gua:

1. Take the entire hexagram structure and conceptually rotate it 180 degrees.
2. The line positions invert as follows: the original first line (bottom) becomes the sixth (top), the second becomes the fifth, and the third becomes the fourth.
3. The new arrangement forms the Zong Gua.

It is worth noting that eight hexagrams in the traditional King Wen sequence are "self-reversing" or symmetrical—their Zong Gua is identical to themselves. These include Yi (颐, The Corners of the Mouth) and Da Guo (大过, Preponderance of the Great), among others, suggesting situations that look the same from any perspective.

Examples

Example 1: Pi (否) and Tai (泰) — The Classic Zong Gua Relationship

Consider Hexagram 12, Pi (否, Standstill), which has Heaven (Qian) above and Earth (Kun) below. This configuration represents stagnation, as Heaven (which naturally rises) is above Earth (which naturally sinks), creating separation and lack of interaction. When we derive the Zong Gua by inverting Pi, we obtain Hexagram 11, Tai (泰, Peace), with Earth above and Heaven below. Here, the energies naturally flow toward each other, creating harmony.

This pair illustrates the fluid nature of fortune. A reading showing Pi with strong moving lines toward its Zong Gua suggests that current stagnation will eventually invert into the harmonious state of Tai—embodied in the proverb "when misfortune reaches its extreme, good fortune arrives" (否极泰来).

Example 2: Qian (乾) and Kun (坤) — The Ultimate Cuo Gua

Qian (乾), the Creative, consists of six solid yang lines representing pure, active, masculine energy, heaven, and initiative. Its Cuo Gua is Kun (坤), the Receptive, consisting of six broken yin lines representing pure, passive, feminine energy, earth, and acceptance. This pair demonstrates that Cuo Gua reveals the complementary energy required for balance. If a reading shows Qian with concerning moving lines, consulting Kun might advise the querent to adopt receptivity rather than forcing action.

Example 3: Revealing Hidden Processes with Hu Gua

Suppose you receive Shi (师, The Army), Hexagram 7, when asking about a business negotiation. The Ben Gua suggests organized action and collective effort. However, extracting the Hu Gua reveals lines 2-3-4 form Kun (Earth) and lines 3-4-5 form Kun as well, creating the doubled Earth trigram. This internal structure suggests that beneath the surface "military" organization lies a foundation of pure receptivity and resources—indicating that despite the aggressive posture, the situation actually requires patience and accumulation of resources rather than immediate advance.

Common Pitfalls

Confusing Cuo Gua with Zong Gua

Beginners often conflate these two transformations. Remember: Cuo Gua changes the nature of the lines (yin becomes yang), while Zong Gua changes the position of the lines (top becomes bottom). Cuo Gua asks "what is the opposite?" while Zong Gua asks "what is the other side's view?"

Over-weighting Hu Gua as the Future

Some novices interpret Hu Gua as the "future hexagram" or final outcome. This is incorrect. The Bian Gua (变卦, Changed Hexagram) derived from moving lines shows the outcome; Hu Gua shows the process or internal mechanics during the transition.

Ignoring Self-Reversing Hexagrams

When working with Zong Gua, practitioners may become confused if the hexagram appears unchanged after inversion. Recognize that hexagrams like Yi (颐) and Da Guo (大过) are symmetrical—their Zong Gua is themselves, indicating situations where opposing perspectives are identical or where reversal produces the same condition.

Mechanical Application Without Context

Applying these three transformations rigidly without considering the specific question leads to muddled readings. Not every divination requires analysis of all three derivatives. Sometimes the Ben Gua speaks clearly; other times, the hidden dynamics in Hu Gua are crucial. The skilled diviner chooses the lens appropriate to the question's depth.

Related Terms

• Ben Gua (本卦): The original hexagram cast at the beginning of the divination; the starting point for all transformations.
• Bian Gua (变卦): The "changed hexagram" created when moving lines (动爻) transform into their opposites; represents the future outcome or final state.
• Fu Gua (伏卦): Often synonymous with Cuo Gua, referring to the "hidden" or underlying hexagram that complements the visible one.
• Yao (爻): The individual lines—either solid (yang) or broken (yin)—that constitute the hexagram's six positions.
• Trigram (八卦, Ba Gua): The eight three-line configurations (Qian, Kun, Zhen, Kan, Gen, Xun, Li, Dui) that combine to form the sixty-four hexagrams.
• Liu Yao (六爻): The Six Lines method of divination utilizing these hexagram transformations along with temporal and elemental analysis.