Sun / DecreaseLake at the Foot of the Mountain

Hexagram 41 ·

With sincerity, supreme good fortune. No blame. One may persevere. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. How may this be used? Two simple bowls may be used i...

First
Nine
Second
Nine
Third
Six
Fourth
Six
Fifth
Six
Top
Nine
Quick Guide

Judgment

With sincerity, supreme good fortune. No blame. One may persevere. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. How may this be used? Two simple bowls may be used in the offering.

Image

At the foot of the mountain is the lake, representing Decrease. The noble person controls anger and restrains desires.

Lines

Going quickly when tasks are finished, without blame. But one must decrease the undertaking somewhat. Perseverance furthers. Setting out brings misfortune. Without decreasing onese...

Hexagram Judgment

Decrease combined with sincerity brings supreme good fortune. No blame. One may be persevering. It furthers to have somewhere to go. How is this to be carried out? One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice.

With sincerity, supreme good fortune. No blame. One may persevere. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. How may this be used? Two simple bowls may be used in the offering.

Tuan Commentary

Decrease means diminishing the lower to increase the upper; its way leads upward. Decrease with sincerity brings supreme good fortune, no blame, perseverance, and furtherance through having somewhere to go. How is this to be carried out? Two small bowls may be used for the sacrifice. The right time for sacrificing two small bowls is when the time is right. Diminishing the firm and increasing the yielding also has its time. Decrease and increase, fullness and emptiness go together with the time.

Decrease means diminishing below to increase above; its way moves upward. Decrease with sincerity brings supreme good fortune, no blame, perseverance, and it is favorable to have somewhere to go. Two simple bowls may be used in the offering when the time is right. Decrease and increase, fullness and emptiness, all move together with the times.

Great Image

At the foot of the mountain is the lake: the image of Decrease. The noble person controls his anger and restrains his desires.

At the foot of the mountain is the lake, representing Decrease. The noble person controls anger and restrains desires.

Line Judgments
FirstNine

Going quickly when one's tasks are finished, without blame. But one must decrease one's undertaking somewhat.

Going quickly when tasks are finished, without blame. But one must decrease the undertaking somewhat.

Small Image

Going quickly when one's tasks are finished: this is what is esteemed.

Going quickly when tasks are finished is what is esteemed.

SecondNine

Perseverance furthers. To set out to bring misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is increased.

Perseverance furthers. Setting out brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is increased.

Small Image

Nine in the second place means perseverance furthers, because the middle is held as the aim.

Perseverance furthers because the middle is held as aim.

ThirdSix

When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, he finds a companion.

When three journey together, their number decreases by one. When one journeys alone, he finds a companion.

Small Image

One man journeying alone finds a companion, but three men together produce doubt.

One man journeying alone finds a companion; three together produce doubt.

FourthSix

If a man decreases his faults, let him make haste to do so, and there will be joy. No blame.

If a man decreases his faults with haste, there will be joy. No blame.

Small Image

If a man decreases his faults, it is a cause for joy.

Decreasing faults is a cause for joy.

FifthSix

Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.

Someone increases him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.

Small Image

The supreme good fortune of six in the fifth place comes to him from above as a blessing.

Supreme good fortune comes from above as a blessing.

TopNine

Without decreasing oneself, one is increased. No blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers to have somewhere to go. He obtains servants, but no longer has a separate home.

Without decreasing oneself, one is increased. No blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers to have somewhere to go. He obtains servants but no longer has a separate home.

Small Image

Without decreasing oneself, one is increased: his aspirations are realized to a great extent.

Without decreasing oneself, increase comes because aspirations are realized.

Frequently asked questions

What does Sun / Decrease mean in the I Ching?

With sincerity, supreme good fortune. No blame. One may persevere. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. How may this be used? Two simple bowls may be used i...

How should I study Hexagram 41 on this page?

Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Going quickly when tasks are finished, without blame. But one must decrease the undertaking somewhat. Perseverance furthers. Setting out brings misfortune. Without decreasing onese...

How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?

Decrease means diminishing below to increase above; its way moves upward. Decrease with sincerity brings supreme good fortune, no blame, perseverance, and it is favorable to have somewhere to go. Two simple bowls may be...

Sources and Method

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.

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Decrease means diminishing below to increase above; its way moves upward. Decrease with sincerity brings supreme good fortune, no blame, perseverance, and it is favorable to have somewhere to go. Two simple bowls may be...

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