Hexagram 15 · ䷎
Humility is fruitful because it remains low while carrying real worth. The noble person who stays modest can bring things to a good completion.
Judgment
Humility is fruitful because it remains low while carrying real worth. The noble person who stays modest can bring things to a good completion.
Image
A mountain hidden within the earth suggests real height concealed beneath low appearance. The noble person reduces excess, supplements deficiency, and distributes things evenly.
Lines
At the beginning, humility makes even a difficult crossing possible. Lowering oneself creates the right passage. When humility is openly expressed and held steadily, it brings good...
Success. The noble person has a good end.
Humility is fruitful because it remains low while carrying real worth. The noble person who stays modest can bring things to a good completion.
Humility succeeds. The way of heaven lowers what is high and makes it shine. The way of earth is lowly and yet rises upward. Heaven diminishes the full and increases the humble; earth transforms the full and flows toward the humble. Spirits and gods harm the full and bless the humble. Human beings dislike fullness and love humility. Humility in a place of honor shines; humility in a low place cannot be surpassed. This is the noble person's good end.
Humility is favored by heaven, earth, spirits, and people alike. What is full is reduced; what is humble is raised and supported. That is why modesty has enduring power.
The mountain beneath the earth—the image of Humility. The noble person reduces the excessive and augments the deficient, balancing all under heaven.
A mountain hidden within the earth suggests real height concealed beneath low appearance. The noble person reduces excess, supplements deficiency, and distributes things evenly.
Humility and modesty. The noble person may cross the great river. Good fortune.
At the beginning, humility makes even a difficult crossing possible. Lowering oneself creates the right passage.
Small Image
The humble noble person may cross the great river because he acts by lowering himself.
The first line shows humility in action, not pose.
Modesty that speaks forth. Perseverance brings good fortune.
When humility is openly expressed and held steadily, it brings good fortune.
Small Image
Modesty that speaks forth is not yet trusted by all.
The second shows humility made steady and audible.
A humble and worthy noble person brings things to completion. Good fortune.
True humility does real work and carries it through. That is why it succeeds.
Small Image
A humble and worthy noble person brings things to completion because the will is carried through.
The third shows humility joined with accomplishment.
Nothing does not further modesty.
In this hexagram, every use of humility is beneficial.
Small Image
Nothing does not further modesty because one does not violate the rule.
The fourth shows that humility works in every direction.
Do not enrich yourself through your neighbor. It is favorable to use force to bring order. Nothing does not further.
Humility must not become a private gain. If correction is needed, it may be used firmly and justly.
Small Image
It is favorable to use force to bring order because one does not let advantage remain private.
The fifth warns against using modesty for private advantage.
Modesty that speaks forth. It is favorable to use armies to chastise one's own town and state.
At the top, humility still speaks and acts, but now it must correct disorder close to home rather than pursue outer display.
Small Image
Using armies to chastise one's own town means the way has not yet been fully established.
The top line shows humility still acting, but now within limits.
What does Ch'ien / Modesty mean in the I Ching?
Humility is fruitful because it remains low while carrying real worth. The noble person who stays modest can bring things to a good completion.
How should I study Hexagram 15 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. At the beginning, humility makes even a difficult crossing possible. Lowering oneself creates the right passage. When humility is openly expressed and held steadily, it brings good...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Humility is favored by heaven, earth, spirits, and people alike. What is full is reduced; what is humble is raised and supported. That is why modesty has enduring power.
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.