The Five Lines of Ichimoku
Tenkan, Kijun, Span A, Span B, Chikou
Based on “At One Glance” by Tyler Thurston · © Grey Rabbit LLC
At a Glance
- Definition
- The five lines are Tenkan-sen, Kijun-sen, Senkou Span A, Senkou Span B, and Chikou Span.
- Key takeaway
- Read interaction first — alignment and location relative to the Kumo — before any single cross.
- Common mistake
- Memorizing colors without understanding equilibrium roles.
- Live market use
- On Gold or GDX, toggle Ichimoku and identify each line before interpreting bias.
What you will learn
- Name and role-map each of the five lines
- Explain how the cloud is formed from Spans
- Describe how Chikou differs from the other four
Why it matters
Most misreads start by isolating one line. Learning the five together prepares you for Sanyaku confirmation and live chart work.
30-second summary
Tenkan is short-term balance; Kijun is medium-term balance. Span A and Span B project a future cloud of support/resistance. Chikou is today’s close plotted in the past for confirmation.
The five lines: Tenkan, Kijun, Span A, Span B (Kumo), and Chikou.
© Grey Rabbit LLC · Native Academy diagram (ebook crop pending when PDF is available)
Tenkan-sen (Conversion Line)
Short-term equilibrium. Sensitive to recent highs and lows; often the first line to turn when momentum shifts.
Kijun-sen (Base Line)
Medium-term equilibrium. Frequently acts as dynamic support/resistance and a magnet when flat.
Senkou Span A & B (Leading Spans)
Together they form the Kumo. Span A responds faster; Span B is slower and often thicker-structure resistance/support. Both are displaced forward.
Chikou Span (Lagging Span)
Confirmation against historical price. Open space favors trend continuation narratives; congestion warns of conflict.
Tenkan-sen
(9-period high + 9-period low) / 2
The Tenkan-sen is the midpoint of the highest high and lowest low over the last 9 periods.
Kijun-sen
(26-period high + 26-period low) / 2
The Kijun-sen is the midpoint of the highest high and lowest low over the last 26 periods.
Senkou Span A
((Tenkan-sen + Kijun-sen) / 2), displaced forward 26 periods
Senkou Span A averages Tenkan and Kijun, then projects that value 26 periods ahead to form one edge of the Kumo.
Senkou Span B
(52-period high + 52-period low) / 2, displaced forward 26 periods
Senkou Span B is the midpoint of the highest high and lowest low over 52 periods, projected 26 periods ahead.
Chikou Span
Close, displaced backward 26 periods
The Chikou Span plots today's close 26 periods in the past for historical confirmation.
1. Which two lines form the Kumo?
Senkou Span A and Senkou Span B. Chikou is not part of the cloud.
2. Why is Chikou displaced backward?
To compare today’s close with price from a fixed lookback for historical confirmation.
3. Which line is typically the short-term equilibrium?
Tenkan-sen (9-period midpoint).
Review only — not scored.
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring Chikou because it “looks behind”
- Reading Span colors without checking price vs cloud
Key checklist
- Can name all five lines and their roles
- Can point to cloud edges vs Chikou on a live chart