TOJEONG BIGYEOL · 861
Tojeong Bigyeol Hexagram 861
The sign of walking north step by step along an old road at sunset
At a glance
- Hexagram
- 861
- Upper · middle · lower
- 8 · 6 · 1
- The year overall
- An even year
- Brighter months
- lunar months 3 and 11
- Months to take care
- lunar months 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 12
Luna Alley's Tojeong readings are for fun and reflection. Read even a difficult hexagram as a guide to how you carry yourself through the year.
The original verse and its meaning
- 斜陽故路 步步北北
Around sunset, you walk the old road north, one step at a time. - 十年勤苦 一日之榮
After ten years of diligent toil, you gain a single day's glory. - 靑山細雨 一心自歎
A fine rain falls on the green mountains, and with a single heart you sigh alone. - 朱雀投江 塞翁失馬
Jujak, the Vermilion Bird, throws itself into the river and the old man of the frontier loses his horse; misfortune and fortune turn and turn again.
The verses follow the public-domain Tojeong Bigyeol held by the National Library of Korea; the meanings are Luna Alley's own retelling.
The year ahead
This is a year when it's enough to keep going steadily, even if late. After ten years of hardship comes a day of glory. There are times you sigh alone in the drizzle on green mountains, but fortune and misfortune go round and round, like the old man at the frontier who lost his horse, so don't grieve too much.
This is a year when those who keep walking steadily, even if late, end up smiling. The first line, walking the old road at sunset one step at a time, means quiet steps matter more than a flashy start. As in the words about a single day's glory after ten years of toil, long-built effort may shine in a moment. Sighing alone in the fine rain of the green mountains honestly shows there will also be lonely, stifling days. The last line, which holds the tale of the frontier old man who lost his horse (a story where loss turned into luck and back again), is a consolation not to grieve too much, since today's loss may become tomorrow's blessing. In the third and eleventh lunar months welcome things and benefactors arrive, as if the thirsty found water. On the other hand, in the first, second, fifth through seventh, tenth and twelfth lunar months you may be busy with little to show for it or feel unease at home, so step back and hold steady. Walk carefully and steadily, and when you look back at year's end, you'll meet a stronger you.
A word from Master Tojeong
“Even the sunset road reaches its end if walked one step at a time. Like the old man who lost his horse, misfortune and fortune turn and turn, so do not grieve too much. Ten years of labor will surely become a single day's glory.”
Month by month (summary)
Only a short note and the original verse for each month. Dates are the 2027 lunar months.
- Lunar month 1Feb 7 – Mar 7Care
This is a month to step back and hold steady. Even moving busily, results are few and you may tire.
奔走四方 辛苦奈何 事多不成 別無所得 · You rush about in all directions, but what can be done about the hardship? Little gets done, so you gain little.
- Lunar month 2Mar 8 – Apr 6Care
There's a lot of noise from rumors or talk but little substance this month. Don't get swept up in boastful offers or stories.
雷聲百里 有聲無形 安靜守舊 災害不侵 · Thunder rings across a hundred li but there's only sound and no form; quietly keep to the old ways and calamity cannot invade.
- Lunar month 3Apr 7 – May 5Bright
The sweet rain you've waited for falls this month. What was lacking is filled and your heart grows much more at ease.
渴者得水 飢者逢豐 若非如此 膝下有慶 · The thirsty get water and the hungry meet a bumper harvest; otherwise, there's a celebration for your children.
- Lunar month 4May 6 – Jun 4Even
Money chances appear this month. Good news may come from the east and south.
財旺東方 南方有吉 橫財有數 勿失此時 · Wealth flourishes in the east and there's good fortune in the south; there's unexpected financial luck, so don't miss this time.
- Lunar month 5Jun 5 – Jul 3Care
The atmosphere at home is easily shaken this month. If misunderstandings arise between spouses or siblings, clear them up right away.
夫婦不安 家有不安 若非親人 兄弟之間 · Husband and wife are uneasy and the household is uneasy; if not close relatives, then it's a matter between siblings.
- Lunar month 6Jul 4 – Aug 1Care
Results may not show despite effort, which can be upsetting this month. Rather than rushing around, rest and prepare for what's next.
時運不利 空然傷心 奔走四方 別無利害 · The time is unfavorable so you only hurt your heart in vain; even rushing in all directions, there's little gain or harm.
- Lunar month 7Aug 2 – Aug 31Care
It's easy to let your guard down after good things this month. Keep track of your belongings and valuables and lock up thoroughly.
此月之數 福過災生 身數不利 盜賊愼之 · This month's fortune has too much fortune breeding calamity; your bodily fortune is unfavorable, so you must beware of thieves.
- Lunar month 8Sep 1 – Sep 29Even
Even when money comes in, it leaks out easily this month. Postpone big spending and use money only where truly needed.
雖有財數 得而反失 戱殺來侵 事多障碍 · Though there's financial luck, you gain and then lose it; a mischievous deadly energy arrives and there are many obstacles in your work.
- Lunar month 9Sep 30 – Oct 28Even
Hope and disappointment are mixed this month. Even if things don't go as hoped, don't blame yourself too much.
此月之數 憂中望喜 事不如意 恨歎不已 · This month's fortune has you hoping for joy amid worry, but things don't go as you wish and the sighs don't cease.
- Lunar month 10Oct 29 – Nov 27Care
Your heart is heavy and complicated this month. In romantic relationships, avoid behavior that could be misunderstood.
心多煩悶 愁心難解 女人勿近 恐損名譽 · There's much anguish in your heart and worries are hard to resolve; don't get close to romance, there's fear of losing your good name.
- Lunar month 11Nov 28 – Dec 27Bright
After a long wait, things change greatly this month. With a benefactor's help, blocked matters loosen and new chances open.
龍在天門 變化非常 西北兩方 貴人助我 · The dragon is at heaven's gate so the changes are extraordinary, and from the two directions of west and north, noble people help me.
- Lunar month 12Dec 28 – Jan 26, 2028Care
Spending easily increases at the end of the year this month. Set year-end gathering and gift costs in advance.
財數論之 少得多用 如或不愼 無端口舌 · Speaking of financial luck, you gain little and spend much; if you're not careful, arguments arise for no reason.
The nine readings by area (money, love, work, health and more) and the long monthly readings open in the Tojeong Bigyeol app once you find your own hexagram.
Who gets this hexagram?
The hexagram depends on your lunar birth date and the year being read. The upper number comes from your Korean age that year plus the year's taese number, the middle from the length and month number of your birth month that year, and the lower from your birth day plus the day number. So the same person gets a different hexagram each year.
For example, someone born on lunar 1/4/1991 receives this hexagram in 2027.
Find my hexagram
Frequently asked questions
Is Tojeong hexagram 861 a good one?
Hexagram 861 is read as an even year, with good and hard months mixed. This is a year when it's enough to keep going steadily, even if late. After ten years of hardship comes a day of glory.
Which months need care in hexagram 861?
In hexagram 861, the lower months are lunar months 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 12. Avoid rushing big decisions then, and go easy on your body and your words.
How do I find my own Tojeong hexagram?
Enter your birth date in the Luna Alley Tojeong Bigyeol page and it converts solar to lunar and works out the hexagram for you. To do it by hand, the 2027 guide shows the formula with an example.